Microsoft: XP SP3 won't arrive until '07

Aiming to keep its focus on Windows Vista, Microsoft is now targeting 2007 for its next Windows XP service pack update.

In a posting to its life cycle Web site, Microsoft set a preliminary date of the second half of next year for the release of Windows XP Service Pack 3 for both home and professional editions. That puts its debut well past the arrival of Vista, which is slated for the second half of this year and later than both outsiders and some insiders had originally predicted.

"We will be releasing another service pack for XP over the course of the product life cycle, and we are tentatively targeting the second half of 2007 for release," a Microsoft representative said in an e-mail to CNET News.com. "However, right now our priority is Windows Vista--we'll have more information to share about the next service pack for XP after Windows Vista ships."

Microsoft declined to say what features or patches might be included in the service pack update.

Speculation over when the update would appear and what it will contain has been ongoing almost since Service Pack 2 debuted in August 2004. SP 2 contained more new features than a typical Microsoft service pack, adding a host of security enhancements, a pop-up ad blocker and improved handling of wireless networks.

A Microsoft France executive confirmed in September that a Service Pack 3 was in the works and suggested that it was slated for sometime in 2006, but after Vista's debut.

The update to Microsoft's life cycle page was earlier noted by the Microsoft Watch.

[n3td3v]

It might be your last service pack

It might be your last service pack, but it won't be your last security update. In my view, you should prolong the XP life cycle as long as possible, if only to learn lessons from it. After that, you can take the mistakes of XP and build on improving yourself for VEEZTAH BABY!!

[paulsecic]

Heck

With Microsoft's record Vista might be delayed til 07. Hopefullly so because they removed lots of stuff. Leo LaPorte said Vista was just a huge service pack. The 2013 version of Windows is what I'm waiting for... Vista = Windows Me.

[n3td3v]

It might be your last service pack

It might be your last service pack, but it won't be your last security update. In my view, you should prolong the XP life cycle as long as possible, if only to learn lessons from it. After that, you can take the mistakes of XP and build on improving yourself for VEEZTAH BABY!!

[paulsecic]

Heck

With Microsoft's record Vista might be delayed til 07. Hopefullly so because they removed lots of stuff. Leo LaPorte said Vista was just a huge service pack. The 2013 version of Windows is what I'm waiting for... Vista = Windows Me.

[privatec]

I thought Vista was XP SP3?

Please everyone move to Mac OS or Linux. Apple aren't the saviours
of the universe but we paying customers deserve better than XP.

[techguy83]

its called..

project Blackcomb. The OS that is coming after Vista.

I'll go find the link if you want some info on it.

[SeizeCTRL]

Really?

As much as I love OSX. My G4 with 10.4.3 crashes WAY more than any XP machine I have. I can't count how many times FinalCut crashes when pulling in HD for edit. Not to mention it was the most painful install I have ever underwent to get OSX on my G4.

The irony though is I have my XP desktop and notebook themed exactly like OSX :) With StyleXP, Yahoo/Konfabulator Widgets, ObjectDock and a few other things like SaferFox theme for FireFox... put my start bar at the top and all that fun stuff.

Anyways I really do have more problems out of my G4 / OSX than any XP system, and the two boxes I have running Linux (Linspire / Red Hat) have yet to cause me one single problem. I really hope this delay for Vista will push Linux more into the mainstream.

[privatec]

I thought Vista was XP SP3?

Please everyone move to Mac OS or Linux. Apple aren't the saviours
of the universe but we paying customers deserve better than XP.

[techguy83]

its called..

project Blackcomb. The OS that is coming after Vista.

I'll go find the link if you want some info on it.

[SeizeCTRL]

Really?

As much as I love OSX. My G4 with 10.4.3 crashes WAY more than any XP machine I have. I can't count how many times FinalCut crashes when pulling in HD for edit. Not to mention it was the most painful install I have ever underwent to get OSX on my G4.

The irony though is I have my XP desktop and notebook themed exactly like OSX :) With StyleXP, Yahoo/Konfabulator Widgets, ObjectDock and a few other things like SaferFox theme for FireFox... put my start bar at the top and all that fun stuff.

Anyways I really do have more problems out of my G4 / OSX than any XP system, and the two boxes I have running Linux (Linspire / Red Hat) have yet to cause me one single problem. I really hope this delay for Vista will push Linux more into the mainstream.

[Mallardd]

Forced Upgrade like IE4?

I can't help but wonder if service pack 3 will
actually be part of a forced upgrade in much the
same way Internet Explorer 4.0 was part of a
forced upgrade from Windows 95 to Windows 98.
Microsoft's biggest competitor is actually
themselves, so it would seem to be in their best
interests to "convince" users of the need to
upgrade to Vista.

[NWLB]

It's springtime for Bill Gates....

....and Microsoft too.....

Here is a thought, how great would it be, if Microsoft actually FINISHED developing a product before they dump it.

I would have hope, but Microsoft beat that out of me long ago.

NWLB
************
www.NWLB.net

[Mallardd]

Forced Upgrade like IE4?

I can't help but wonder if service pack 3 will
actually be part of a forced upgrade in much the
same way Internet Explorer 4.0 was part of a
forced upgrade from Windows 95 to Windows 98.
Microsoft's biggest competitor is actually
themselves, so it would seem to be in their best
interests to "convince" users of the need to
upgrade to Vista.

[NWLB]

It's springtime for Bill Gates....

....and Microsoft too.....

Here is a thought, how great would it be, if Microsoft actually FINISHED developing a product before they dump it.

I would have hope, but Microsoft beat that out of me long ago.

NWLB
************
www.NWLB.net

[TyTyson]

ahha so Vista is delayed huh?

suprise.

[Andrew J Glina]

You didn't read the story, did you?

No surprise.

[Rolndubbs]

....

Re-readthe story, might be helpfull.

[TyTyson]

ahha so Vista is delayed huh?

suprise.

[Andrew J Glina]

You didn't read the story, did you?

No surprise.

[Rolndubbs]

....

Re-readthe story, might be helpfull.

[fred dunn]

Almost Criminal...

Microsoft has already given itself one of the worst security records with its countless vulnerabilities and lack of agression to patch them.
But to hold out a Service pack until 2007 is almost criminal. This means that Systems Administrators will have to keep tabs on a high number of patches and their interdependencies rather than one service pack.
While I realize there will always be hotfixes on top of service packs, the tracking of high numbers of these hotfixes becomes a challenge and a potential security threat.

Fred Dunn

[fred dunn]

Almost Criminal...

Microsoft has already given itself one of the worst security records with its countless vulnerabilities and lack of agression to patch them.
But to hold out a Service pack until 2007 is almost criminal. This means that Systems Administrators will have to keep tabs on a high number of patches and their interdependencies rather than one service pack.
While I realize there will always be hotfixes on top of service packs, the tracking of high numbers of these hotfixes becomes a challenge and a potential security threat.

Fred Dunn