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Windows XP Service Pack 3 Not Due Until 2007

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the thats-ok-no-new-viruses-are-scheduled-in-07 dept.

vitaly.friedman writes "Microsoft has published the due date for Windows XP SP3 (Service Pack 3) on its Windows Lifecycle Web site. The preliminary due date (the latter half of 2007) for the next collection of fixes and patches for Microsoft's desktop operating system is as more than a year later than many company watchers were expecting."

11 of 334 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting commentary on this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Whitedust posted an interesting commentary on this this other day. I agree with them.

  2. But.. by JonJ · · Score: 5, Funny

    I thought Windows Vista was due this year?

    --
    -- Linux user #369862
  3. huh by c0dedude · · Score: 5, Funny

    "2007" is a funny term for "whenever we get around to it"....

    --
    Since when has this country used intellectual elite as a pejorative term?
  4. last one left turn out the lights... by DeveloperAdvantage · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think by then half of their team will be working at google!

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    FREE - Java, J2EE and Ajax Audiobooks for Software Developers - www.DeveloperAdvantage.com
  5. W.. T.. F.. by StikyPad · · Score: 5, Funny

    This story reminds me of a co-worker I used to have, who used to spout off completely worthless information. One day he decided to inform everyone that the history of the letter W was not in the dictionary, much to his dismay. Nobody was ever quite sure why he cared, let alone why he felt it necessary to verbalize his observations. I suspect he submitted this story as well.

    --
    https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere
  6. Not that big of a deal. by gasmonso · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This shouldn't surprise anyone. MS wants Vista to be out before any major patch to XP. Its in their best interest as it compels more people to upgrade to Vista. XP will be treated like a red-headed step child so Vista will look more appealing. So long as they issue security patches I'll be happy. It's what I've come to expect.

    http://religiousfreaks.com/
  7. "date"? by deep44 · · Score: 5, Funny

    So their release "date" is 2H 2007? Since when is a 6-month window considered a "date"?

    A precedent like that really makes you wonder about the release "dates" they still can't commit to.

  8. Re:horrible analysis by elinden · · Score: 5, Funny
    ...they might as well be throwing darts at conclusions...

    no no -- they used a mat. with conclusions printed on it. and then they jumped onto the mat...
  9. 2007? by AeroIllini · · Score: 5, Funny

    This just in: Microsoft Windows XP SP3 is now renamed Microsoft Windows Vista, and will ship sometime in early 2009. Possible new features include an updated icon, a completely new marketing campaign, one driver for an HP scanner written in a drunken coding blitz at 3am, and a new desktop wallpaper prominently featuring the Microsoft Logo.

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  10. Interesting... by EvilMonkeySlayer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Has anyone else noticed Microsofts gradual decrease in providing updates?
    For example, NT 4 had 6 service packs and number 7 was not released. But supposedly was pretty much complete, number 7 added a bunch of features that were supposedly in Windows 2000.. and with the release of Windows 2000 just around the corner.. why would they want to make 2000 less appealing?

    Also, notice that 2000 has just 4 service packs..

    And it's looking more like XP will be getting just 3 by the end of life period, now... either Microsoft have absolutely amazing QA which means they're fixing all the bugs in their OS's by the last service pack or they want to force people onto their newest OS with the promises of bug fixes etc.

    This is disheartening, they're trying to force people into a perpetual upgrade cycle and are being very successful at it too. I guess we can only hope that stuff like Linux and OpenOffice start making some inroads to at least reduce the price of Windows to help reduce the pressure on people who are locked into MS solutions.

    1. Re:Interesting... by kawika · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Corporate America told Microsoft that they didn't like service packs because they required a lot of IT effort to roll out across the organization. As it stands, any true security patch needs to be installed ASAP, so anything in a service pack is probably something most IT departments would prefer to avoid unless it scratches their itch.

      Microsoft has been listening to big companies; they created "patch Tuesday" as a way to reduce the pain for corporate IT departments. Think about it, why wouldn't MS release the patch ASAP for consumers? In fact, that would be better for MS debugging because it would be easier for MS to tell if a particular patch caused problems. As it is, they're all clumped together each month.

      If nobody in particular is clamoring for an update, Microsoft will oblige them by not issuing one.