Microsoft releasing XP SP3 this week?

XP may not EOL until this June, but that doesn't mean it's not in need of the same kind of tender lovin' update packs as OSes of every variety occasionally receive. And according to CRN, the long awaited XP SP3 could be due out as early as tomorrow, or possibly later this week. We'll keep an eye out -- we know it's hard to let XP go.

[Thanks, Khattab]

Update: We hate to be the bearers of bad news but we've already heard that things might not be so optimistic for such an early release. Sources tell us that there still might be some show-stopping issues with SP3 that could prevent it from staying stable (and thus seeing immediate rollout). We'll be watching, as always.

[Aguiluz @ Mar 23rd 2008 4:31PM]

SP3... Well, won't need do download that now... SP1 for Vista is now sweet and I don't hate it anymore.

Slow news day...

[iB3nji @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:40PM]

agreed

[Allen @ Mar 23rd 2008 7:06PM]

I feel exactly the opposite. I was hanging onto vista for SP1 hoping for major improvements... when nothing came I formatted and installed XP. Plus now I get SP3!

[Chebwa @ Mar 23rd 2008 7:19PM]

@Allen

If you installed XP that recently you should have waited until a slipstreamed disc made itself available. A truly fresh SP3 experience.

PS: Vista SP1 (via a clean install) is awesome. I don't think enough people are installing it slipstreamed. Patching with something as big as SP1 is never going to be as tight as going from sqiuare 1.

[Mark @ Mar 23rd 2008 9:16PM]

C'mon Microsoft for the love of all that's holy release SP3 - my grandparents who refuse to get a new computer (and had me take back the one I bought for them) demand that I reinstall XP on a PIII 550mHz + 256 megs ram. It will take me the entire damn day to patch that thing.

[Tomahawk @ Mar 23rd 2008 9:22PM]

@Chebwa
I'm installing slipstreamed its called Windows Server 2008......far better then Vista.

[Steve A. @ Mar 23rd 2008 10:03PM]

@Tomahawk

You know that Vista SP1 updates the kernel to the exact same code as Server 2008, right?

[mymaclife @ Mar 24th 2008 5:05AM]

Come on Engadget you selfish bastards - remember only report news that Aguiluz finds interesting.

[ReggieXuk @ Mar 23rd 2008 4:36PM]

SP1 wont even install on my Amilo La1703 laptop.
WHY? BECAUSE ITS CRAP AND IS A BASIC XP LAPTOP WITH A VISTA STICKER!

[iB3nji @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:41PM]

well judge vista on a more capable machine :)

[MEAT! @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:52PM]

All these computers are Vista capable.

But some are more capable than others.

[ethana2 @ Mar 23rd 2008 6:03PM]

Compositing metacity, KDE4 kwin, and compiz /all/ -crush- aero.

But I thank all the suckers out there for bringing hardware prices down and giving me lots of room to participate in distributed rendering for the next open movie.

[Zorque @ Mar 23rd 2008 6:52PM]

Actually, Aero looks nicer than all of those and is still fully themable with a simple .dll replacement. Sorry.

[MEAT! @ Mar 23rd 2008 7:27PM]

I agree with ethana. Compiz fusion does crush Aero.
Here are some things I can now do on my machine that I couldn't with Aero: Zoom desktop, Expo (virtual desktops), Mac OSX-like widget overlay, wobbly windows, window previews, OSX-like window switching, scaling, and various window animations.

Not to mention the dock-like avant window navigator. There are thirty-four additional effects that I haven't turned on.

This video will help you more than my post will: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC5uEe5OzNQ

[Paul @ Mar 23rd 2008 7:34PM]

@Zorque you obviously have never used Compiz Fusion, It utterly and completely blows Aero out of the water.

[Zorque @ Mar 23rd 2008 7:44PM]

You're confusing "more effects" for "better looking".

[MEAT! @ Mar 23rd 2008 7:59PM]

That may be, but at least there's no confusion as to which provides you with more functionality. (I'll give you a hint, it's the one that offers more effects.)

[Zorque @ Mar 23rd 2008 8:11PM]

I didn't realize a tiny cube where you can kinda sorta make out any of your desktops at a given time was considered functional.

[MEAT! @ Mar 23rd 2008 8:23PM]

Me neither; that's why I don't use it, and why I didn't list it. Here's what I did list, and why it adds functionality for me:

Zoom desktop: makes smaller things bigger. Sometimes my eyes get tired, or want to zoom in on, say, an embedded video or Dosbox (emulated video games).

Expo: If one desktop is useful, why not two or three? I often have many windows open, especially when programming.

Widget overlay: Allowing the fullscreen to be taken up by items that give you information is useful, especially when you can get it to it with one button. I have a clock, notes, calendar, calculator, and weather information.

Wobbly windows: Not useful, truthfully.
Window previews: If I can't remember which browser window I had the PDF open in, which terminal my program, and which notepad-program holds my class notes, I just roll over their icons and see live previews.

OSX-like switching: I think it's called expo? Windows has something similar, but less slick; allows you to see the full, live application next to the others, in a sort of virtual carousel.

Scaling: One button, and every window is resized and I can pick which to bring to the foreground. Don't try and tell me it isn't useful. Sometimes windows get put behind other windows; why should I have to cycle through them all to find what I want?

Animations: not useful.

34 other items: may be useful.

[Ratteler @ Mar 23rd 2008 4:38PM]

It's impossible to let XP go since Vista is, and always will be a privacy invading turd.
Luckily Wine 1.0 is around the corner, and hopefully it will feed back into the ReactOS project. That hopefully means we can use legitimate OS' that protect our privacy AND run the software we need. Something Vista Barely does anyway.

[ethana2 @ Mar 23rd 2008 6:07PM]

Amen! ++

[Lantesh @ Mar 23rd 2008 4:38PM]

I'm looking forward to it. If we can get a link posted here to a stand alone install download that would be great. I run Ubuntu as my main OS, but I still need Windows for somethings. I plan on using XP for at least two more years, so SP3 is a welcome update I will be happy to get my hands on.

[ethana2 @ Mar 23rd 2008 6:09PM]

If I ever find myself rebooting into XP any time soon, I may consider it too.

..but I doubt it.

[Patriks7 @ Mar 23rd 2008 4:40PM]

uhm
ive had SP3 on my XP for over a week now.. from windows updates.. :?

[OziD @ Mar 23rd 2008 4:53PM]

did you download the registry key to update to an RC?

[Patriks7 @ Mar 23rd 2008 4:55PM]

is a registry key over 400 mb? :x

[Brian @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:17PM]

NeutralPatriks7
@ Mar 23rd 2008 4:55PM
is a registry key over 400 mb? :x

He is talking about the registry tweak to be able to download SP3 via Windows Updates you n00b.

[Patriks7 @ Mar 24th 2008 3:20PM]

oh yes now that i dont know much about computers im a noob -.- great
plus i hardly use windows.. mac user for a couple years u n00b _|_

[Gamer90 @ Mar 23rd 2008 4:45PM]

Any performance enhancements?

[Gonzalo @ Mar 23rd 2008 4:52PM]

Did anyone saw this?
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=68C48DAD-BC34-40BE-8D85-6BB4F56F5110&displaylang=en

[OziD @ Mar 23rd 2008 4:54PM]

sweet overview?

[Backlin @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:06PM]

I didn't know the updates came in PDF format.
Times have changed...

[Gonzalo @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:10PM]

That's why i say "saw" not "downloaded", duh...

[Abuzar @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:25PM]

Well then you should have said "see". I wasn't going to point it out, but since you wanted to rub your usage of words all in my face, I decided to.

[Gonzalo @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:29PM]

Ouch...Point taken (honestly, english's not my usual language)

[quiksilv3r @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:44PM]

I can tells.

[michael @ Mar 23rd 2008 8:21PM]

I dont think that the person who wrote the PDF was a native english speaker. Page 4, "English Updaets". =))

[Andy @ Mar 23rd 2008 4:54PM]

i'd rather have 3sp -- 3 six packs -- of apple juice!

[JAmerican @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:24PM]

Keep drinking Apple's Kool-Aid.

JAmerican

[CraigJ @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:40PM]

Why did you put "JAmerican" in your post? We knew it was you...

[Abuzar @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:41PM]

It's because he can. Why do you need any other reason?

Abuzar

[Kent Pribbernow @ Mar 23rd 2008 6:29PM]

@Jamerican

As apposed to drinking Microsoft's Arsenic?

[JAmerican @ Mar 23rd 2008 6:54PM]

@CraigJ

Looks like people took out their revenge on my comment by making you get High Ranked. Nice! As for signing my posts, its a habit and one that I like. Its like saying why sign a letter when your name is right under the signature.

@Kent

Recently, looks like M$ is using less arsenic compared to Apple.

[Andy @ Mar 23rd 2008 7:17PM]

you forgot to sign

[Andrew @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:03PM]

SP3 made my computer refuse to boot after it was installed. the only way i could fix it was by uninstalling in safe mode...lame

[Jon Doe. @ Mar 23rd 2008 7:06PM]

I've installed the RC on 3 systems.....not MS's fault that you have something funky with your system.

[Andrew @ Mar 23rd 2008 8:01PM]

lucky for me i never mentioned it was microsoft's fault. the installation of the service pack just didn't sit well with my extensively modified system.

[Timmy @ Mar 24th 2008 8:48AM]

Using lame....lame

[Andrew @ Mar 24th 2008 9:03AM]

being named timmy...lame

[ictiosapiens @ Mar 23rd 2008 5:04PM]

Won't microsoft just use it to cripple XP on order to push people to vista????