Windows XP SP3 Released

Microsoft has released Windows XP SP3 to the web in several languages including English.

ARS Technica reports

Concerns over the general overall quality of the Microsoft Vista Operating System have put Microsoft in a bind with respect to longer term support for the XP environment.

Many companies as well as individual users have no intention of upgrading to Vista in the near future. In fact some installations have actually reverted to XP from Vista, preferring what appears to be the superior stability and familiarity of the XP Operating System.

My personal experience has been that OS upgrades are generally more trouble than they are worth, and I'm happier when I wait rather than plunge in and face the incompatibility consequences of the upgrades. Although it's probably not a good path to profits, I'd prefer to see Microsoft focus on the *smaller picture* with respect to software and improve things incrementally with easy-to-install upgrades rather than bring out massive, potentially bloated, and often challenging brand new programs.