Competing with itself
Having released it to manufacturing on 22nd April, Windows XP SP3 was scheduled to be made available to the rest of the world yesterday.
Windows XP is still a hugely popular operating system, arguably more so than Microsoft's latest: Vista.
The latest service pack is essentially a roll-up of patches that should make systems administrators' jobs a lot easier when deploying Windows XP in large corporations. And there's evidence to show a continuing demand for the six year old operating system.
A number of large OEMs including Dell, HP and Lenovo still offer Windows XP and have stated that they will continue to do so even after the planned 30 June cut-off by Microsoft.
Demand for XP has been so high that Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer has already hinted that this cut-off date may be delayed. Additionally, support in the form of patches and updates will continue well after any 2008 sales termination, there's a clear appetite to stick with the aging operating system.
This demand represents a worry for Microsoft as the release of Service Pack 1 for Vista was met with a lukewarm response.This demand represents a worry for Microsoft as the release of Service Pack 1 for Vista was met with a lukewarm response. While some problems were fixed, for many businesses compatibility with third party and proprietary applications remain a major concern.
As for Windows XP, SP3 is seen by many as long overdue. Aside from a considerable number of security patches, the most interesting feature in the service pack allows users to install the operating system – should SP3 be 'slip-streamed' into the installation media – without entering a serial number. This is now entered in the Windows Genuine Advantage stage once initial installation is completed.
New features
A few other features have trickled down from Vista such as NAP, a network policy platform which essentially acts as a firewall should an application not conform to the policies set out by the user. This is really aimed at the enterprise rather than homes.
Other headline features include black hole router detection and a revised Kernel Cryptographic Module, KCM. Black hole router detection means routers which drop packets without giving the correct ICMP response will be avoided or dropped. The KCM provides new algorithms for kernel-mode drivers to hook onto.
SP3 is more of a security exercise rather than the headline grabbing feature pack that was SP2. For many though, XP's feature set is just what they require and spring-clean that SP3 brings is just what the doctor ordered.
With the launch of SP3, Microsoft may be the biggest loser as it could stoke the already fierce demand for Windows XP on pre-built systems. Aside from hurting Vista sales, making a U-turn on their well publicised sales cut-off period for XP may just give credibility to claims that Vista just hasn't been as successful as Microsoft had hoped.
On the other hand, Microsoft may have decided that it would rather people used some form of Windows, rather than defect to Mac OS or Linux. A pragmatic, if slightly humiliating climb-down.
