Microsoft Windows XP SP3 (and Surface surfaces)

Numerous blogs and websites announced the 'RTM' release of Windows XP Service Pack 3 earlier today. Almost every headline made it look like it was ready for YOU, now. It's not.

The TechMeMe chase the story mania began with a simple post to a Microsoft forum late yesterday, and proliferated throughout the day today, with a variety of spins. Spins?

Welcome to the 'No Software Zone'.

It is a significant tech story when this Service Pack is finalized. I just felt that a LOT of people might not realize what RTM actually means.

Here's this week's "Translating the headlines"? :

For those new to this space, 'RTM' means Release to Manufacturing, usually the second to last step in a Service Pack final end-user release. The NEXT step is when YOU will be able to download it ... as thousands evidently tried to do today.

Those of you who read this blog regularly know we've been testing both the first and second release candidates of Windows XP SP3 on a few configurations here. Our experience has been positive. This is a good, stable and improved package ... at least on our Intel-based x32 boxes.

Microsoft DID post an official comparison of Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista SP 1 to the Microsoft Download Center today and Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is already available from the Microsoft Technet website and is expected to appear in automatic updates soon.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 should be available for download from Microsoft over the next week, if not by the previously announced date, April 29th.

Microsoft sidebar: Some surprisingly cool video of Microsoft Surface Computing, currently being introduced in AT&T stores, can now be found (in Silverlight) here.