Windows XP's Final Service Pack

Microsoft lets everyone try Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate, available last night. However, it warns off people who are not comfortable using pre-release code.

Windows XP's Final Service Pack
Microsoft has made available the Release Candidate (RC) for Windows XP Service Pack 3. The update, available at the Microsoft Download Center, would be the last Service Pack for the six-year-old operating system.

The service pack is finally available to the public, after giving thousands of users access to the update in an invitation-only basis.

According to a company spokeswoman, the version that was released, was dubbed a 'release candidate' to note the progress from earlier betas. She was unable, however, to say when the service pack would be available to Windows Update so users can download and install it with Windows Automatic Updates.

The final version of Windows XP SP3 remains slated for delivery sometime in the first half of 2008, the spokeswoman said. She also warned off casual users from trying the preview. "As this is a release candidate, we strongly encourage only those who are comfortable installing prerelease code to download Windows XP SP3," she said.

Recently, Microsoft has been downplaying the significance of Windows XP SP3. In a white paper posted to its Web site last week, and also Tuesday, the company praised Windows Vista at XP's expense, reminding users that "Vista provides the most advanced security and management capabilities of any Windows operating system."

"Windows XP SP3 does not bring significant portions of Windows Vista functionality to Windows XP," the spokeswoman said.

According to the white paper, the Download Center version of XP SP3 will weigh in at about 580MB; the version downloaded and installed via Windows Update, however, will be much smaller, typically around 70MB.

Windows XP debuted in October 2001 and was last updated as SP2 in August 2004; SP3 will be the final major upgrade of the operating system.