Windows XP SP2 Delayed Until Late 2004

Dom · Aug 16, 2003, 05:39 AM

In a surprising turn of events, Microsoft has pushed back the release date for the second Windows XP service pack to the third quarter of 2004. SP2 was long expected to debut before the end of 2003, a year after SP1 made the rounds.

The change in plans came to light by way of Microsoft's Product Lifecycle Web site, which details future support timelines for the company's products.

"Third quarter next year would put anywhere from 18 to 24 months between the first two service packs," Joe Wilcox, senior analyst for Jupiter Research, told BetaNews. "This is a much longer cycle than between Windows 2000 service pack releases."

The possible implications of the move are far reaching. A yearlong delay gives Microsoft significant time to further its integration strategy with Windows XP – building more components directly into the operating system.

"It's possible that Microsoft is preparing a more substantive-than-usual service pack that would add new features to Windows XP or hybrids Media Center and Tablet PC," said Wilcox.

One such potential feature is Microsoft's PC Satisfaction package, currently in beta testing. PC Satisfaction extends the native functionality of Windows XP with services such as an enhanced firewall and virus scanner that give customers a better Windows experience out of the box.

Although Microsoft has not yet announced how it plans to issue PC Satisfaction in its final form, the company hinted that a new firewall would be enabled by default in the next Windows XP update.

It is unclear how the delay will affect the next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn. Microsoft executives previously targeted late 2004 for a release to manufacturing and planned to have Longhorn on store shelves by mid-2005.

However, an extended Windows XP lifecycle gives Redmond more time to maneuver and opens the door for Longhorn to debut in early 2006.

A 2006 release date puts almost five years between Microsoft's consumer operating system releases, following the launch of Windows XP in 2001. Microsoft has previously denied considering an interim operating system release in the form of Windows XP Second Edition, but a two-year development timeframe for Service Pack 2 may raise the possibility once again.

In the meantime, consumers and businesses will need to be vigilant about keeping Windows XP patched with the latest updates from Microsoft, rather than waiting for the convenience of a service pack, noted Jupiter's Wilcox.

The issue of patching came to a head this week after many Windows users fell victim to the Blaster Internet worm, despite Microsoft issuing a patch for the security hole in July. Microsoft has since told BetaNews it plans to improve the method in which patches are installed, as well as better educate customers on the steps needed to protect their systems.

"A second half 2004 release does not have to mean a crisis for consumers," said Wilcox. "When used properly, Windows XP's Automatic Update keeps the OS up to date."

Microsoft was unavailable for comment by press time.

______________________
Source: BetaNews

nForcer · Aug 16, 2003, 05:42 AM

Fall of 04 - wow thats a long ways away. Means lot more leaks will be out...means this forum is going to get hella busy!

brc64 · Aug 16, 2003, 05:48 AM

Crap.. I was hoping it would be out sooner than that so I could do a clean install with SP2 soon.

- Me

Nuke209 · Aug 16, 2003, 06:26 AM

man, f-this...ms better hurry up

Necrosis · Aug 16, 2003, 07:06 AM

Hmm, I thought the reason Microsoft was in trouble in the first place about the antitrust stuff was because of too much intergration. Am I missing something here? Microsoft Virus Scanner...sorta like JUMBO shrimp???

mike2h · Aug 16, 2003, 04:57 PM

i agree. also, longhorn is supposed to come out not to long after that. what is the point of waiting so long ot release a massive sp that supposedley as many changes(besides al the tweaks & fixes we could use now) that close to a new os release?
think something stinky is going on at ms. again.

RIV@NVX · Aug 16, 2003, 05:34 PM

Hope they won't delay Windows Server 2003 SP1 so much...

AzErdos · Aug 16, 2003, 08:02 PM

It's plain stupid.

I have to d/l 40MB of patches for an SP1 installation + Dx9.0b (18MB?). This size is already worth a damn SP.

/me goes away to slipstream those patches into an installation set

(I just have 34 Critical patches installed

)

nForcer · Aug 17, 2003, 02:42 AM

And don't forget the 27.7MB .NET Framework download

Aug 16, 2003, 05:39 AM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	Windows XP SP2 Delayed Until Late 2004 In a surprising turn of events, Microsoft has pushed back the release date for the second Windows XP service pack to the third quarter of 2004. SP2 was long expected to debut before the end of 2003, a year after SP1 made the rounds. The change in plans came to light by way of Microsoft's Product Lifecycle Web site, which details future support timelines for the company's products. "Third quarter next year would put anywhere from 18 to 24 months between the first two service packs," Joe Wilcox, senior analyst for Jupiter Research, told BetaNews. "This is a much longer cycle than between Windows 2000 service pack releases." The possible implications of the move are far reaching. A yearlong delay gives Microsoft significant time to further its integration strategy with Windows XP – building more components directly into the operating system. "It's possible that Microsoft is preparing a more substantive-than-usual service pack that would add new features to Windows XP or hybrids Media Center and Tablet PC," said Wilcox. One such potential feature is Microsoft's PC Satisfaction package, currently in beta testing. PC Satisfaction extends the native functionality of Windows XP with services such as an enhanced firewall and virus scanner that give customers a better Windows experience out of the box. Although Microsoft has not yet announced how it plans to issue PC Satisfaction in its final form, the company hinted that a new firewall would be enabled by default in the next Windows XP update. It is unclear how the delay will affect the next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn. Microsoft executives previously targeted late 2004 for a release to manufacturing and planned to have Longhorn on store shelves by mid-2005. However, an extended Windows XP lifecycle gives Redmond more time to maneuver and opens the door for Longhorn to debut in early 2006. A 2006 release date puts almost five years between Microsoft's consumer operating system releases, following the launch of Windows XP in 2001. Microsoft has previously denied considering an interim operating system release in the form of Windows XP Second Edition, but a two-year development timeframe for Service Pack 2 may raise the possibility once again. In the meantime, consumers and businesses will need to be vigilant about keeping Windows XP patched with the latest updates from Microsoft, rather than waiting for the convenience of a service pack, noted Jupiter's Wilcox. The issue of patching came to a head this week after many Windows users fell victim to the Blaster Internet worm, despite Microsoft issuing a patch for the security hole in July. Microsoft has since told BetaNews it plans to improve the method in which patches are installed, as well as better educate customers on the steps needed to protect their systems. "A second half 2004 release does not have to mean a crisis for consumers," said Wilcox. "When used properly, Windows XP's Automatic Update keeps the OS up to date." Microsoft was unavailable for comment by press time. ______________________ Source: BetaNews

Aug 16, 2003, 06:26 AM	#4
Nuke209 DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: St. Paul Posts: 568 Rep Power: 0	man, f-this...ms better hurry up __________________ 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX

Aug 16, 2003, 04:57 PM	#6
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	Necrosis i agree. also, longhorn is supposed to come out not to long after that. what is the point of waiting so long ot release a massive sp that supposedley as many changes(besides al the tweaks & fixes we could use now) that close to a new os release? think something stinky is going on at ms. again. __________________

Aug 16, 2003, 05:34 PM	#7
RIV@NVX Freedom is a feature. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Croatia, Rijeka Posts: 4,476 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Hope they won't delay Windows Server 2003 SP1 so much... __________________ -- Vedran

Aug 16, 2003, 05:42 AM	#2
nForcer Twice the fun! Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,404 Rep Power: 0	Fall of 04 - wow thats a long ways away. Means lot more leaks will be out...means this forum is going to get hella busy!

Aug 16, 2003, 05:48 AM	#3
brc64 Zeeky H. Bomb Join Date: May 2002 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 826 Rep Power: 0	Crap.. I was hoping it would be out sooner than that so I could do a clean install with SP2 soon. - Me

Aug 16, 2003, 07:06 AM	#5
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Hmm, I thought the reason Microsoft was in trouble in the first place about the antitrust stuff was because of too much intergration. Am I missing something here? Microsoft Virus Scanner...sorta like JUMBO shrimp???

Aug 16, 2003, 08:02 PM	#8
AzErdos DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	It's plain stupid. I have to d/l 40MB of patches for an SP1 installation + Dx9.0b (18MB?). This size is already worth a damn SP. /me goes away to slipstream those patches into an installation set (I just have 34 Critical patches installed )

Aug 17, 2003, 02:42 AM	#9
nForcer Twice the fun! Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,404 Rep Power: 0	And don't forget the 27.7MB .NET Framework download