The latest from Microsoft is a news of an upcoming download for Windows XP called Windows XP Service Pack 3. According to the white paper published by Microsoft to wit "This white paper is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no Warranties, Expressed or Implied, in this document." The non-binding description of Windows XP Service Pack 3 (Windows XP SP3) includes all previously released Windows XP updates and hotfixes and select out-of-band releases.

What's Not in The Windows XP SP3?

According to Microsoft's white paper, the pending download does not include;Windows Internet Explorer 7, but it does include updates to both Internet Explorer 6 and 7. Windows XP SP3 will update whichever Internet Explorer you have on your system.

What Does Windows XP SP3 Purport To Do?

Basically what Windows XP SP3 will do for you, is to allow you to catch up on any updates, security updates and fixes you may have missed or too busy to download. Microsoft states unequivocally that the service pack does not "significantly change customer´s experience with the operating system."

For organizations and individuals, Window XP SP3 does include Network Access Protection, (NAP). This will allow users access to features in the Windows Server 2008 operating system. In addition, the white paper indicates there will be "select" out-of-band releases and a small number of new releases.

Early Reports of Tests of Windows XP SP3:

According to TechSpot, a test run of the service pack by Devil Mountain Software Group provided an unexpected boost in performance. The Group used a test machine made by Dell XPS M1710 with 2 GHz Core Duo CPU and 1GB of RAM and running nVidia GeForce Go 7900GS video. According to Craig Barth, Devil Mountain Software Chief Technology Officer, the test involved testing with OfficeBench. The results were a 10 percent performance boost in trials run with the Windows XP SP3 versus the previous version XP SP2. The same tests were run on Vista and according to Barth, "it is two times slower than than the most current builds of its older sibling." While preliminary, this is good news for XP users.

In conclusion, the final version of Windows XP SP3 will potentially be available in the near future. In the meantime, it will be interesting to read updated reports on the trial version currently available. There is little doubt that Microsoft would like to persuade users that Vista is the way to go, but for the time being a packaged fix at no cost to users seems fine.

Copyright 2007 Mary Anne Simpson & Physorg.com.