eh? uninformative - all it says is that sp3 will have updates for ie7 and updates for wmp... Which we've had since ages...

respect recent xp sp3

Why go through the motions of delivering a service pack when you have no intention of delivering? When it comes to Microsoft, why go through the motions of feigning why this or that MS development is happening?

We all know why: Examined in context, almost everything Microsoft does is about nudging users to the next product. It all about The Microsoft Nudge.

The XP service pack delay simply makes Vista look more attractive.

The declaration that the most leading edge security enhancements in IE 7 will work only on Vista is the same deal. Need those IE 7 security features? No problem! Just buy Windows Vista or a whole new PC with Windows Vista on it.

Offering numerous freebies for Windows that run only on Windows XP is the same deal. Using an older Windows version and want the freebies? No problem! Simply buy Windows XP, or simpler still, just buy a whole new computer which comes with Windows XP already on it.

But be careful about a whole new computer with just Windows XP Home as it evidently it's security fixes run out at the end of this year.

Want your new XP PC to last longer? No problem! Simply pay $150 more for it (or so) and get Windows XP Pro, for a year or two longer protection and more security fixes. Or wait for Windows Vista and buy Windows Vista, or simpler still, buy a whole new PC with Windows Vista on it.

Can't run Windows Vista on that "old" two-year-ancient laptop for which no Vista video drivers will be issued? No problem! Simply buy a whole new laptop with Windows Vista on it.

We never need to ask Why? with Microsoft: Simply get out the checkbook, or simpler still, avoid the big payment and perpetually rent your MS software via web-based Windows Live applications.

It's all about the Windows Nudge.

Here's the reality, Microsoft is a repeater of events. The public wishes to have a new OS after what 6 years. Under pressure to produce, Microsoft simply throws Vista out there, like they did with previous OSes. When Windows 2000 was released about how long was it before XP was released, little over a year. Once XP was out, it seems to have lasted for about 6 going on 7 years. Microsoft is doing the exact same thing here. It's going to throw Vista out there, let it be ate alive by critics and those who actually know how to use a PC, they will make some profit by changing their contracts with big businesses, like IBM, HP, Sony, Gateway, Thoshiba, Lenovo, Acer, and Dell, and once they actually get a good OS in working condition, they will release it. Until then, quite frankly, I will be using XP. As to the release of XP SP3, does it really matter when it is released? Of course microsoft wants to push Vista, it is simply going to prepare the public for the up coming features of the computer world. For those who are not converting to Vista, Microsoft will release Service Pack 3 which will also be pushed, and nudged, and "forced" unto the public, it is one more way for Microsoft to grab the interest of people not wanting to upgrade. Once SP3 is released, it will probably have just enough Vista Features to have everyone wanting the upgrade. By the time all this happens. I am willing to bet that Microsoft will have released at least a beta for the Next OS after Vista.

I wish you peopel would quit puttin down microsoft. You people wanna wine, but we would pretty much still be ridin in buggys pulled by horses if it wasnt for them. They transformed the world, get off your pc and the internet and go take a nature hike, and never return to civilivation again if you cant repsect what microsoft did to the world.. youc ant can you? cause your stuck,, stuck on technology, cause microsoft made PCs and the net more important that eating for most humans,.. Of course they have problems, they r the only ones with the balls to make a program thats usefull on a pc, macs still suck, why do u need 4000mhz machine to do spreadsheets on? You dont powerhorse PCs r for games and design, something macs cant touch, and macs ripped operating systems off of microsoft, so next time u whine about them do it off THEIR internet, if it wasnt for them you wouldnt have net . In case u have to be told , they delay thigns cause they find flaws, and whats wrong with windows as it is? It works fine till u let someone who doesnt know how to use a PC touch it, or your hard drive becomes corrupt, which has nothing to do with them. QUIT WHINING or get off their net

Microsoft gets put down, sir, because it deserves to. From it's beginings, it has lied cheated and stole in order to get it's prominent place in today's society. computers were around before Microsoft, as well as operating systems too. Microsoft stole DOS from a rival company and contracted with all the computer companies to make it industry standard to build computers with dos pre-installed. Microsoft never invented the internet, that was a fluke made by a business meeting in Germany. Windows was stolen from Mac... not the other way around. Internet Explorer? it used to be called Netscape, until investigations almost led to Microsoft being sued for having a monopoly, the gave Netscape to another company, and then took what was going to be the latest release of Netscape, changed the name, and released it anyway... almost killing the Netscape company they just created. all of IE's latest "new" features were directly taken from the open source Firefox, and still IE has to be updated more because of "security holes" than any other web browser... it's not because the others don't care... it's that Microsoft cares so much about making money... that they will release a shoddy, half finished, buggy, sercurity MESS, so they can say they did it first and keep all the other companies at their heels trying to keep up. The "off-brand" versions of computer software have always been better made, they just can't do all that Microsoft's can, because of Copyright laws. Even so, they are more secure, more robust, more versitile, and less "buggy" than anything microsoft has put out to date. Office 2007 already has SP 1, and it's been just over a year since it's been out. Most service packs for microsoft at least... contain gigs of security updates, bug fixes, and patches, and then so it's more appealing, a few new features, which then need immediate updating. no one can "rip" anything off Microsoft... they'll sue you until you're dead, and then sue your kids too. They know that things "ripped" from others are very profitable, that's how they got off the ground and stayed at the head of the tech revolution, so they make darned sure no one else can do the same. they ask for the beating they get, and we're stuck because they beat everyone else into submission so we can't go anywhere else for technology usage.

1. "Get off their net" WRONG.
The internet wasn't invented by MS. The seed of what would become the internet was created by ARPANET in 1969. It was basically a group of researchers working for the Department of Defense.
The internet the way you know it was created on UNIX systems (MAC and Linux are UNIX systems).
That's why the internet it's faster on Linux and MAC. Besides there are only a few viruses for Linux and MAC and the security it's by far superior then the one in WINDOWS. That's why you don't need antivirus and firewalls to slow you down.

http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/02/macosxleap.html

Check out the article's release date: 16 February 2006
At that time there were no viruses for MAC OSX
This is a list of Linux viruses:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_computer_viruses
1, 2 … hmm, only 15 :P
And about the inventor of the internet read this:
http://www.isoc.org/internet/history/brief.shtml#Introduction
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_was_the_Internet_invented

2. " You don’t power horse PCs for games and design, something that Mac’s can’t touch" WRONG
For your information programs such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Flash, Dreamweaver, In Design … etc.) were developed initially on MAC for MAC users and it runs 10x faster on MAC.
GIMP was developed on Linux. GIMP also runs faster on Linux. :)
These are only a few examples to prove you're wrong. MAC OSX it the best choice for design and graphics (except games)
There are only a few games developed for MAC OSX (games that where, released for windows too not games like solitaire) because most of the people in this world are using WINDOWS.
But MAC and Linux users can use CEDEGA (http://www.cedega.com/) to play most of the games.
:P

3. "They are the only ones with the balls to make a program that’s useful on a pc" HMMMM
Well in that case stop using any other program developed by any other company or a single programmer. All those programs are not useful for a PC. Oh and stop playing other games than
Solitaire, I bet you don't have balls to do it. :D

4. "Mac is a ripped operating system of Microsoft" LOOOOL WTF
"Windows was stolen from Mac... not the other way around" I can't say it isn't so but...
Well now you're both wrong. Firstly, MAC is a UNIX-like OS while WINDOWS is a DOS-based OS.
Their architecture doesn't have too much in common. The only WINDOWS operating systems that use UNIX elements are the SERVER editions and this is because the internet was born on UNIX-like systems.
To "rip off" an OS you must know the source code. And that's not something easy to find out.
Just because some things look the same or seem to be the same doesn't mean there are the same.
MAC would never steal something from MS because of a simple fact: every OS developed by MS it's based on the old NTFS file system which allows defragmentation. And because of that your PC runs. Those APPLE guy are not that stupid. NTFS sucks. MAC and Linux are using other file system such as ext3 and HFS .

5. "Microsoft stole DOS" WRONG
MS purchased DOS (originally named QDOS-Quick and Dirty Operating System) from Seattle Computer Products right after they signed the contract with IBM for creating a new OS.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/86-DOS

6. "Internet Explorer? It used to be called Netscape" WRONG
Netscape was not developed by MS. Indeed, MS was sued or having a monopoly. Netscape tried to take over IE but it failed.
Netscape Navigator was originally called Mosaic Netscape, a reference to the first popular browser, Mosaic, which came from National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. That had been written by a group of coders led by Marc Andreessen, who later teamed up with one of the founders of Silicon Graphics, Jim Barksdale, to set up Mosaic Communications. Not surprisingly, this name didn't go down to well with the University of Illinois, who threatened the company with legal action. The latter backed down, and changed its name, as well as that of its browser.
Read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browser_wars#The_first_browser_war

7. WINDOWS sucks, too many SP’s bla, bla ...
WINDOWS is the most common OS in this world. Millions of people are using it in many different ways, in different situations, in different configurations. No one could predict every single configuration and no one can make WINDOWS run perfect in any situation. This is a fact.
If you are a home user and all you do is to watch a movie, listen to some music, play a game and write some docs everything is fine. But when you start using to many apps your WINDOWS is slowing down. It has nothing to do with those guys, "who don’t know how to use a PC". All the problems appear when you start using your PC at high levels. With so many users no wonder there are so many possible situations and configurations.
I'm a programmer and a web designer and I know all these. I use a lot of apps to develop my programs and to create my websites. I hate those moments when my PC starts running like a piece of crap. And that's all because of WINDOWS and MS considering that most of my programming "tools" are developed by MS. I hate that huge amount of updates but I’ve realized that it's better with them without them.

That's all I had to say. If you don't like it sue me :)
OH about that SP3, when will it be released?

"I wish you peopel would quit puttin down microsoft. You people wanna wine, but we would pretty much still be ridin in buggys pulled by horses if it wasnt for them."

Oh yeah, thats right, pity microsoft was built on stolen ideas eh??

Ihave the new sp3 beta on my pc and truthfully, i dont notice a diffrence.
runs good,. smooth like sp 2, they hype is there, but i dont see much of whats the biggie on sp3 is but if its needed then ok lets have it, so far BUG FREE

The only thing MS did/does was/is steal ideas from other companies. If you will remember the DOS days MS DOS was alwasy a version behind Dr. DOS. And then MS didn't always have all of the features of Dr. As for windows, that was stolen from Apple who in turn stole the idea from Zenith (I think it was Zenith anyway). MS routinely files for the most patent but that is because open source hasn't filed for them until recently. MS has been, is, and always will be behind the curve.

darkdog, were there any new features in SP3 beta that are worth mentioning?

you can get it here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=75ed934c-8423-4386-ad98-36b124a720aa&displaylang=en

Why go through the motions of delivering a service pack when you have no intention of delivering? When it comes to Microsoft, why go through the motions of feigning why this or that MS development is happening?

We all know why: Examined in context, almost everything Microsoft does is about nudging users to the next product. It all about The Microsoft Nudge.

The XP service pack delay simply makes Vista look more attractive.

The declaration that the most leading edge security enhancements in IE 7 will work only on Vista is the same deal. Need those IE 7 security features? No problem! Just buy Windows Vista or a whole new PC with Windows Vista on it.

Offering numerous freebies for Windows that run only on Windows XP is the same deal. Using an older Windows version and want the freebies? No problem! Simply buy Windows XP, or simpler still, just buy a whole new computer which comes with Windows XP already on it.

But be careful about a whole new computer with just Windows XP Home as it evidently it's security fixes run out at the end of this year.

Want your new XP PC to last longer? No problem! Simply pay $150 more for it (or so) and get Windows XP Pro, for a year or two longer protection and more security fixes. Or wait for Windows Vista and buy Windows Vista, or simpler still, buy a whole new PC with Windows Vista on it.

Can't run Windows Vista on that "old" two-year-ancient laptop for which no Vista video drivers will be issued? No problem! Simply buy a whole new laptop with Windows Vista on it.

We never need to ask Why? with Microsoft: Simply get out the checkbook, or simpler still, avoid the big payment and perpetually rent your MS software via web-based Windows Live applications.

It's all about the Windows Nudge.

Microsoft is a company built in the money making empire. The only reason that they are still in existence is that they have bought out all competitors except LINUX and UNIX, which is developing and, thanks to the South Americans, is getting better. Not brilliant, but better.

Microsoft, are under pressure to impress and keep the public interested, so they release a product, VISTA. I am always up for the latest gadgets etc, but I am not all that impressed. It is a hyped product where Home Premium is just as good as Ultimate but costs less. Call that professional.

Microsoft have already announced their next OS, so why should anyone in their right mind buy vista. It is another Windows 2000.

Now we come to XP SP3. My issue is, this is a company with some of the world leaders in technologies and programming techniques, so why on earth should they need to have an SP3? You don't see so many updates to cover errors on UNIX systems.

The point here is not that there is an SP3, but rather, the OS should have been designed, built and produced far more effectively.

Bottom line, Microsoft have no excuse for producing sub standard software and charge a fortune for it.

Microsoft is the best! whatever the people say...it has a market share! ... it rules! and will always.....for ever!

Maybe in your dreams, you must work for them. Buy a Mac. You will be much happier.

I will never purchase another PC again simply because of too many issues with Microsoft products. This is the first time in my life that I actually downgraded an OS. I used Vista for several months and could not deal with all the issues so I went back to XP. SInce then I went out and got a Mac and could not be happier. So long Microsoft!

This is great what microsoft has stated as well that all home edition's of windows xp will be converted to professional with this update this includes windows media center edition and even the windows tablet pc edition

hi i just downloaded service pack 3 and have not noticed any difrence in windows, internet explorer 7 or windows media player although afer i restarted my pc windows live messenger did install somthing but i dont know what is was. my pc has no change!!!

Wow....all the bickering going on in here with all the bad spelling. Perhaps you people need to pay attention more in school and stay off the computers. Its killing me to see young minds drying up and focusing on the "My dad is better then your Dad" argument. Microsoft surly has things to be ashamed about. Let’s face it; they are a big company I could only guess maybe 5 or 10 times bigger then Mac and their iniquities will not go unnoticed. As for Mac, they could easily slip a few things under the radar, and i'm sure they have, because they're never in the spot light. I love their commercials though, they're awesome. Let's not forget that Mac programs are developed by Mac hence they are very specific and there's not nearly as much programs available for it, at least as far as I know. PC programs are developed by mainly 3rd party programmers which are one of the major crash problems for PC's today. It's up to Microsoft to fix these problems therefore getting all the blame. Why do you think there are pages of DLL’s? Truth is, they both have their advantages and disadvantages and when you’re ready to accept that then perhaps you will finally graduate to grade one. As for now, go to your opposite corners, face into them and don't come out till your ready to grow up.

P.S. Has anybody checked my spelling yet?

Yes I did check your spelling which seems fine. It's your grammar I'm more worried about. Check that again. Wise guy.

Hm,

It's not its, surely not surly and I think the use of the word "iniquities" is a little strong for this situation. And yes, your grammar is atrocious.

Figured some you guys need to research a topic before you get in a debate about

Internet History
http://www.zakon.org/robert/internet/timeline/
http://www.isoc.org/internet/history/cerf.shtml

Microsoft
http://www.thocp.net/companies/microsoft/microsoft_company.htm

DOS
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa033099.htm

Apple
http://applemuseum.bott.org/sections/history.html

Mac
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_history
http://lowendmac.com/history/index.shtml

please read up on information before you post and debate things nothing more annoying then stupidity

Service pack 3 has drastically slowed down the manner in which my
pc starts up and loads programmes like Adobe illustrator into memory.
It hangs for about two minutes longer than what it usaully does.Plus there seems to another issue when i attempt to save a copy of an imported cad drawing in Illustrator-I get an error message saying that I cannot save that file>This never used to happen before.Anybody else experiencing this?

OK, I am going to blast my own oppinion for a while.

The only good that Microsoft can be said to have done for computer technology, is that it has forced the industry into making computer developers work within industry standards, most of which were in fact dictated by Microsoft.

Other than that, everything that everyone here has said, is, in fact, true. I use to have a great deal of respect for Bill Gates as a businessman, but, as time has gone by, it is clear that he is doing his best to make every dime spent on computer technology, directly benifit him.

The next OS I have after XP, will not be a Microsoft product, because I find it offensive to pay 4 or 500 dollars for an operating system that is designed to protect the ownership rights of software writers, and prevent me as a user from doing whatever tweeking and modifying I want, and tracking every move I make, which is exactly what Vista is, and its' successor will be much the same.

Linux is where I will be going from here, because just running programs isn't my idea of power computing. I am the only one that will be in control of my software, not Bill and Company.

hi i'm just wondering why my pc slowers down on starting up after installing SP3,, anyone with a brilliant mind hello!!! please help me with this,,, T_T

Windows XP SP3 is a mess up don't install it! It will mess up your XP and Microsoft are trying to get people from XP to Vista.

So, I dont NEED to install Windows XP SP3 at all? I keep getting these notices that I need to update and install this. I keep trying to ignore it, but my computer won't let me.