Posted on 01/17/2006 3:47:21 PM PST by HAL9000
Without any warning or even an official announcement, Microsoft has quietly pushed back the release of Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) to late 2007. This new schedule places the release at least a year later than the previous schedule, under which SP3 would ship sometime in 2006. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer previously announced that his company would ship SP3 "before" Windows Vista, which is now due in late 2006.Microsoft's new schedule for SP3 was revealed in a service pack roadmap that the company posted to the Web late last month. According to this document, Windows XP SP3 will ship in the second half of 2007. It's unclear whether SP3 will now include new features. Originally, Microsoft said that SP3 would only include a collection of previously-released bug and security fixes. [Windows Server 2003 SP2 is still on track for the second half of 2006.]
Sources at Microsoft told me that the delays are related to the company focusing all of its efforts at getting Windows Vista out the door. Vista is another product that has suffered innumerable delays: The company once expected to ship Vista in 2003.
This isn't the first time Microsoft has delayed a Windows XP service pack, though this new delay is the longest yet. XP SP2 was originally due in 2003, but was delayed to 2004 when Microsoft decided to halt Windows development during a security code review. That event delayed both XP SP2 and Windows Vista, which then went by the codename Longhorn.
That will change this year when I purchase my own computer for work (I work at home)...a Mac Pro Notebook. In the meantime I am sure glad all of our home computers are Macs. Apple delivers.
Urgh. Well, I'll just have to wait. I am NOT "upgrading" to Vista. XP may very well be the last Microsoft OS I use at home.
Fear the turtle.
The turtle should fear my desire to buy a MacBook after they're refreshed.
Bring on the winhater and maclovers!
I'm sure they'll come eventually. Meanwhile, I don't hate Windows.
ping
Even if it is refreshed by a Dookie? ;)
I was already here and left...but I guess I am back..but now I am leaving again. Bis später!
ping
Me too. The laws of diminishing returns are setting in for Microsoft. What can be more improved than XP? I'm not ready to merge my computer with the TV and entertainment center and stuff via Media Center. Vista will likely be a bells-and-whistles version of Professional XP anyway.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Software releases being pushed back from their original release date has always been the rule rather than the exception.
Much ado about nothing.
Delays are annoying, but I must admit I appreciate Microsoft's recent embrace of "get it right" as opposed to their previous philosophy of "let the first round of buyers beta test it."
What about the Penguins? At least we're cute and cuddly.
Maybe not :) In the case of this thread it only took one post to validate the rule I mentioned to you in an earlier thread :)
From what I have read it seems like it is a Windows version of OS X "Tiger". It has programs similar to Dashboard, Spotlight, the windows update is now like Mac's updating software, IE finally gets tabbed browsing, and a calendar program like iCal.
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