A positive news about Microsoft this week, is that it continues to support Windows XP, even though Windows Vista is their current cash cow. Microsoft said on Tuesday that it is making public its latest test version of Windows XP/Service Pack 3.
The Windows honchos from Redmond said Release Candidate 2 of XP SP3 will be available after 5 p.m. PST via Microsoft’s download center. “We’re broadening the availability of the release candidate in order to receive further user feedback prior to the release of Windows XP SP3,” it said in a statement.
The same test version was released to a smaller group of testers on February 8th. Microsoft said at the time that it was still on track to release the software in final form before the end of June of this year.
It was originally expected as early as 2006, but has been pushed back several times as the bulk of Microsoft’s energy has been focused on Windows Vista. The update focuses mainly on bug fixes and other minor changes to the operating system, as opposed to new features.
I’ve been using Windows XP/SP2 Home Edition for almost three years with excellent results. IMHO, it’s one of the most stable versions of Windows I know, and would not like to migrate to Windows Vista unless I have to. Besides, I would have to buy more memory and upgrade my graphics card to run it; meaning I would have to break my piggy bank in order to switch to Vista. Ouch!
For the time being, I’ll stay put with Windows XP and upgrade whenever Microsoft comes up with new software—like in this case. Are you switching to Windows Vista?
