Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 is the first taste of the next iteration of Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Delivered to the general public following the MIX08 presentation of Dean Hachamovitch, General Manager Internet Explorer, IE8 Beta 1 is available for download for a variety of flavors of Windows. According to the official Microsoft download page for IE8 Beta 1, the browser is designed to integrate with the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista RTM, Windows Vista SP1, Windows XP SP2, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003 SP2. As you can see, there is a notable exception from this list: Windows XP SP3.

There is no IE8 Beta 1 download available for XP SP3. With the third and final service pack for Windows XP in Release Candidate 2 stage at this point in time, it is clear that Microsoft is ignoring XP SP3, while the service pack is not finished. According to the Redmond company, XP SP3 is planned to be released to manufacturing by mid-2008, at which time time there will be a version of Internet Explorer 8, probably even Beta 1 that will integrate with the operating stage.

[IMG=3]When I approached a Microsoft spokesperson about the issue of the missing IE8 Beta 1 for Windows XP SP3 download, this is the answer I got: "Yes, it will run on Windows XP SP3 when it's available." I asked why wasn't an IE8 version delivered for XP SP3 from the get-go, whether the first beta of Internet Explorer 8 would even install on XP SP3 pre-RTM, and when would the Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Windows XP SP2 release be joined by an Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Windows XP SP3 download. The above answer was the sole provided. But, despite the fact that IE8 Beta 1 fails to install on pre-release versions of Vista SP1 or on debugged versions of Vista, Vista SP1, or Windows Server 2008, it will install without any issues on pre-RTM XP SP3.