[Chad Fairbanks]

I'm using XP SP2 right now, and have been beta testing it here at work for months. At first there were some issues that needed addressing, but for the most part it has been a lot smoother than even I expected - the security updates are good things, IMHO, and will make it a little harder for the average home user to do stupid things that mess themselves up.

That being said, I'm sure it will confuse some people. That's to be expected, though...

[N. Theknow]

I'm using XP SP2 right now and I am having no probl

[ErnBatavia]

Microsoft is returning to its policy to provide free support for service packs after leaving support for Windows XP SP1 to the PC makers, Pilla said. Nevertheless, Hewlett-Packard Co., Dell Inc. and Gateway Inc. are also gearing up for the release of SP2 and will support their customers, spokespeople for those PC makers said.

I know diddly squat about computers, but a couple of years ago when I decided to take in SP1, my HP took a total dump....turns out there were "issues" between Microsoft and HP. It was a scary experience obtaining and then using the half dozen restoration CDs.

[Pit1]

At least MS doesn't have to worry about the EU countries, they want a locally grown OS. Germany and France should return to DOS, it's cheap.

[Golden Eagle]

MS can never win with some people, first it's too insecure (nevermind the hackers running wild the world over), then when they try to increase security it's now unfair to their users.

[sionnsar]

"WinXP alert!!" ping

[Cicero]

I've been following the news from beta reports. It looks as if SP2 RC2 is pretty good. You can turn off some of the extras, like the windows firewall, if you want. It's not yet clear what the release date will be. The word is that it may be delayed until August while they work more bugs out of it. That's just as well.

I usually load up my computer with betas, but I draw the line at operating system betas, because if something goes wrong the adverse consequences are pretty severe. But the reports are good. I do believe Microsoft will wait to release it until the bugs are ironed out to a much greater extent than their practice not so long ago.

[suzyq5558]

I switched to a different browser and email program last week after my last nerve was frayed with all the spyware,bots and the usual crud. having to run adaware and search and destroy after a session was getting upsetting to me. i can say that i have been spyware free since the day i closed IE and its been nice. however i will update to SP2 when it cames out because i want my PC running smoothly and i like XP i havnt had one screen of blue death with XP or the crashes like i had with ME.