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Windows XP SP3 Released To Manufacturing

Posted by kdawson on from the last-in-a-distinguished-line dept.

mike_diack was one of many readers to send word that Windows XP SP3 been released to manufacturing. It will be available to OEMs and enterprise customers on April 29. Here is a summary of features and changes. The company will wait till "early summer" to enable SP3 downloads through Automatic Updates.

11 of 323 comments (clear)

  1. Umm... by calebt3 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Isn't it kinda late to be releasing to manufactures? How much more will they be able to use it?

  2. So much service! by Fluffeh · · Score: 4, Insightful

    While I love the fact that my OS is being helped along and that they are keeping it up to date, I am still a little annoyed that the "follow up" OS is really still about as useful as a bucket full of random sized bolts.

    Though I love gaming, each month seems to bring me closer and closer to blowing away all three of my windows boxes and replacing them with a distro of Ubuntu or something similar. My lack of knowledge is the one thing keeping that at bay for now.

    When will Microsoft simply get the fact that a flashy desktop DOES NOT COMPENSATE FOR A SHITTY OS.

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    1. Re:So much service! by Bandman · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Wanna bet on whether or not it "accidently" breaks enough machines to convince people to upgrade?

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    2. Re:So much service! by gnalre · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Very true. I've been using Vista since it was available on Newegg, and have had almost no problems (not none, but then again, it isn't like people have no problems in any OS). It works beautifully, people crying about Vista are either a) unfortunate in the fact that their hardware/app isn't supported (and this isn't the majority of the problems), or b) spreading FUD. Hurrah for you. You have played Microsoft roulette and we have a winner!

      The truth is I am sure Vista is fine for many people. I do assume Microsoft did some testing before release, however even with a brand new PC you just don't know how Vista will run. And why bother when you do know windows XP will run just fine,(and probably faster). Also if you look at what Vista gives you over XP, there is not a lot there to make it a must have upgrade especially with the afore mentioned risks associated with it.
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    3. Re:So much service! by Fweeky · · Score: 3, Insightful

      download automatix and run it No, please don't. It's buggy, it screws up updates, and it's been discontinued.
  3. Re:So the bad guys will have MONTHS. by afidel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    WTF? Why do MSDN and VL customers get this later than Windows Update? What exactly are we paying for?

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  4. Re:RTM? by The+Second+Horseman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You're not really the customer for this if you're thinking retail. Sure, it's a patch set for end-users, but the main target is corporate / volume license customers (for example, higher ed) customers who want updated media, drivers, etc. and don't want to move to Vista yet. They're still going to be able to get and use XP (downgrade rights) via their license agreement, and many will probably use XP for another couple of years.

  5. Six months then. by downundarob · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Early Summer!

    So somewhere around December then?

  6. Update Rollups every 6 months please! by ScottCooperDotNet · · Score: 4, Insightful
    As someone who's had to build many a Windows XP system since SP2 came out, it would be very handy if Microsoft offered a single file (similar to Windows 2000's Update Rollup) that has all patches since the last service pack. It would save me (or my company) time, and would save Microsoft on bandwidth.

    I'm aware there are third party ways to update fresh builds of XP in a more straightforward fashion (or integrate the updates in to the install disc), but where is mighty Microsoft on this? Where is the value here?

  7. Re:WGA? by i.of.the.storm · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Considering SP2 did (IIRC) I would assume so.

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  8. Re:So much service! - Broadcom does work by Perseid · · Score: 5, Insightful
    We go from:

    Ubuntu most of the time requires no specific knowledge. Start the live cd, double click the install icon and click next. Wait fifteen minutes and you have a stable system. to

    No, this commment would classify you as a bit of a n00b. You still using Ubuntu? You can get broadcom cards to work using firmware from linuxwireless + the b43 kernel module. I personally prefer to just compile the Zen Kernel from git (not to be confused with Xen). It's bleeding edge and fast. http://waninkoko.info/?q=node/14 Otherwise, just build the kernel module and get the firmware. I'm graduated from Kubuntu to Arch, and now am switching from Arch to Gentoo so I can have even more control and more speed. *blink*