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The logical step in the evolution of XP, following the introduction of Service Pack 2, formerly codenamed Springboard, SP3 got pushed back into the background and in the shadow of Windows Vista. Despite Microsoft's initial estimates, it failed to ship in 2006 and in 2007, getting postponed all the way back to 2008. The first half of 2008 that is.

Microsoft remained consistent amidst speculations pointing to the cancellation of the service pack, and only broke the silence of Windows Omerta to reinstate its commitment to deliver SP3 by mid 2008. And now with both the service packs for XP and Vista under construction, the first half of the coming year holds a great deal of promise for Windows users. Vista's rough corners will be softened down to the texture of a baby bottom, SP1 bringing to the table boosted performance, increased reliability and enhanced support. And XP will get a few Vista features along with just about every hotfix, update and patch that Microsoft will be able to squeeze into a standard service pack.

And all by mid 2008. This is because, following the departure of Jim Allchin, the former Co-President, Platforms & Services Division, on January 30 2007, the same day that Vista shipped to consumers, Microsoft forced Windows into the Sinofsky era. Steven – codename Translucency – Sinofsky, is the senior vice president for the Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group — the user experience of Microsoft Windows and Windows Live services, and the architect of Windows Omerta. And Sinofsky brings with him a new development strategy focused on the delivery.

Or the First Quarter?

On the official Microsoft webpage for Windows Service Pack Road Map, the Redmond company has posted general details about the delivery date of Service Pack 3 for Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional. The two messages read as following: "SP3 for Windows XP Home Edition is currently planned for 1H CY2008. This date is preliminary. SP3 for Windows XP Professional is currently planned for 1H CY2008. This date is preliminary." Therefore, SP3 by mid 2008 is nothing but a preliminary change. And in this context, subjected to change.

Tucked away from the prying eyes of Windows users, Microsoft updated Windows Service Pack Road Map on October 15 2007 with an entry for Windows Vista: "SP1 for Windows Vista is planned for 1Q CY2008. This date is based on beta feedback." So... the first quarter of 2007. Microsoft is not playing around with the patience and frustration of Windows users. For both Vista SP1 and XP SP3 the company will ultimately decide the release data in accordance with the beta testing feedback. The more positive the input, the closer the availability date of the two service packs.

But as abstract that the first quarter/half of 2008 mighty seem, chances are in fact that Microsoft will make available Windows XP SP 3 and Windows Vista SP1 at the same time, and closer to the beginning of next year rather than to summer. This of course has not been confirmed by the Redmond company and it is pure speculation on my part. However, there is an intimate connection between XP SP3 and Vista SP1 that supports such a scenario.

Siamese Service Packs

Windows Vista SP1 and Windows XP SP3 have been joined at the hip ever since they debuted into beta testing in mid July 2007. The two beta preview builds of the service packs were dropped in the laps of a select pool of testers, but Microsoft did point to the broadening of the test driving process for both releases. Windows XP SP3 build 5.1.2600.3180 (xpsp.070718-2058) – 350MB and the Vista Vista SP1 ISO file pre-beta build 6001.16549, marked the debut of service packs tandem releases, synchronized around new development milestones of Windows Server 2008, formerly codenamed Longhorn.

At the end of September, Microsoft delivered on its promises with the evolution of Vista SP1 and dropped the first beta for the service pack. Windows Vista SP1 Beta Build 6.0.6001.16655 (longhorn_rc0.070907-1905) was shortly followed by the availability of Windows XP SP3 Beta Build 3205 in early October. And Microsoft kept this up while moving the two service packs into Release Candidate stage.

The past week, testers were permitted access to a preview version of the Release Candidate for Windows Vista SP1 – build 6001.17042. The RC for XP SP3 accompanied the new milestone release of Vista SP1 with Build 2600.xpsp.071030-1537: Service Pack 3, v.3244 - 337 MB. And all this time Microsoft was also advancing Windows Server 2008 in the background. In this regard, it seems only a logical conclusion that the synchronization of the testing builds of Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista SP1 will also translate to the final versions.

The fact of the matter is that every way you look at it, the first half of 2008 automatically includes the first quarter. And XP SP3 and Vista SP1 moving roughly at the same pace through Beta Previews, Beta and Release Candidate stages, manage to provide an insight into the continuation of development up to the final release.

Marketing Suicide? Or Is It?

Although Windows Vista is currently in the limelight for Microsoft, Windows XP is still far from expiration. One view over the XP vs. Vista face-off in terms of the install base is that SP3 will be a marketing suicide for Vista, SP1 or no SP1. Still, Microsoft, even before Vista hot the shelves, added support to Windows XP throughout 2014. In addition, the company prolonged XP's availability via the retail and original manufacturer channels until mid 2008.