Xp Service Pack 2 Delayed

[Guest LB]

In a surprising turn of events, Microsoft has pushed back the release date for the second Windows XP service pack to the third quarter of 2004. SP2 was long expected to debut before the end of 2003, a year after SP1 made the rounds.

The change in plans came to light by way of Microsoft's Product Lifecycle Web site, which details future support timelines for the company's products.

"Third quarter next year would put anywhere from 18 to 24 months between the first two service packs," Joe Wilcox, senior analyst for Jupiter Research, told BetaNews. "This is a much longer cycle than between Windows 2000 service pack releases."

The possible implications of the move are far reaching. A yearlong delay gives Microsoft significant time to further its integration strategy with Windows XP – building more components directly into the operating system.

"It's possible that Microsoft is preparing a more substantive-than-usual service pack that would add new features to Windows XP or hybrids Media Center and Tablet PC," said Wilcox.

One such potential feature is Microsoft's PC Satisfaction package, currently in beta testing. PC Satisfaction extends the native functionality of Windows XP with services such as an enhanced firewall and virus scanner that give customers a better Windows experience out of the box.

Although Microsoft has not yet announced how it plans to issue PC Satisfaction in its final form, the company hinted that a new firewall would be enabled by default in the next Windows XP update.

It is unclear how the delay will affect the next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn. Microsoft executives previously targeted late 2004 for a release to manufacturing and planned to have Longhorn on store shelves by mid-2005.

However, an extended Windows XP lifecycle gives Redmond more time to maneuver and opens the door for Longhorn to debut in early 2006.

A 2006 release date puts almost five years between Microsoft's consumer operating system releases, following the launch of Windows XP in 2001. Microsoft has previously denied considering an interim operating system release in the form of Windows XP Second Edition, but a two-year development timeframe for Service Pack 2 may raise the possibility once again.

In the meantime, consumers and businesses will need to be vigilant about keeping Windows XP patched with the latest updates from Microsoft, rather than waiting for the convenience of a service pack, noted Jupiter's Wilcox.

The issue of patching came to a head this week after many Windows users fell victim to the Blaster Internet worm, despite Microsoft issuing a patch for the security hole in July. Microsoft has since told BetaNews it plans to improve the method in which patches are installed, as well as better educate customers on the steps needed to protect their systems.

"A second half 2004 release does not have to mean a crisis for consumers," said Wilcox. "When used properly, Windows XP's Automatic Update keeps the OS up to date."

[Redhat]

Third quarter of 04?? Are they BONKERS?

Don't they realise they'd need 3 disks for the service pack by then :P

[Chris]

Hmmm....

[Scarthy © ® ™]

Microsoft: Windows XP SP2 Will Ship Before Q3 2004

Late last week, Microsoft posted an interesting document outlining its release plans for various Windows version service packs, prompting reports that Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), originally due late this year, was being delayed until late 2004. That's because the page (URL below) lists "Q3 2004" as the XP SP2 release date. A little fact checking goes a long way, however, and after conferring with various Microsoft representatives, I've confirmed that the Q3 2004 date is, indeed a typo. That's the good news. The bad news is that the service pack is still shipping a lot later than originally expected: It won't be out until the first half of 2004.

"Unfortunately, that Web site is incorrect," a Microsoft representative told me Monday. "Windows XP Service Pack 2 will actually ship by mid-2004, and we announced this date at the annual Financial Analysts Meeting last month." Indeed, Microsoft group vice president Jim Allchin noted that SP2 would ship by mid-2004 at the meeting. "We have Service Pack 2 for Windows XP coming out this fiscal year," he said. "[it will] not [include new] features, but there will be a few things that we're adding to that." Because Microsoft's fiscal year runs from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004, "fiscal 2004" refers to that time frame and not calendar year 2004. That schedule, I was told, is still correct.

The Microsoft representative also told me that XP SP2 would include no major new features but would instead consist of all the bug and security fixes Microsoft released since XP was issued in October 2001. That fact makes the schedule nonsensical, however. If XP SP2 is just updates, it should ship immediately, not in six months; XP SP1 shipped almost a year ago. Products such as Windows XP Media Center Edition "V2," Windows XP Tablet PC Edition "V2," and Windows Powered Smart Displays "V2," all due by the end of calendar year 2003, are not reliant on XP SP2, the representative told me.

Found - HERE.

News Source.

;)

Happy now??? :P