XP SP3 officially came out

The last major upgrade package for the 7-year-old Windows XP operating system, codenamed Windows XP Service Pack 3, has just been shipped to computer manufacturers by Microsoft.

However, personal XP users will have to wait until April 29 to officially download and install SP3 to their computer from the Microsoft website.

According to Microsoft, Windows XP SP3 brings together all previously released update packages and patches for Windows XP. In addition, it also improves the performance and stability for this operating system, despite the "not so great" level.

In addition, SP3 will have a number of updates that make it easier for network administrators to manage XP computers, in the context that the Windows Vista operating system is gradually being deployed in an enterprise environment.

Earlier, from the end of March, the TechARP website reported that Windows XP SP3 will be available in the second half of April.

Although this is not an official Microsoft channel, this Malaysian tech website has reported quite accurately about some of Microsoft's recent software releases. Specifically, TechARP.com accurately reported the date Vista SP1 arrived at computer manufacturers (last month), as well as the time when SP1 officially released on Windows Update in mid-March.

Users can download SP3 via Microsoft's Windows Update tool or directly from the Microsoft Download Center website. If you are too busy, you can wait until the end of this summer, when Microsoft Automatic Update service "installs" SP3 to help you from A to Z.

"Live with a cheap PC"

If nothing changes, SP3 will be the last important update for Windows XP. Microsoft will stop selling the 7-year-old operating system to computer makers from June 30.

Then, on January 31, 2009, Windows XP will be removed from all distribution channels and not receive any further development, research or updates.

This move is to push individual and business users to quickly upgrade to the newly released Windows Vista operating system.

Most recently, however, Microsoft announced it would continue to sell Windows XP Home to hardware manufacturers until 2010, to meet the needs of a new ultra-cheap ULPC (laptop) market.

The software giant's last-minute change came from the endless chain of complaints and complaints from low-cost PC makers, because by the time of June 30, they had just unveiled the first product lines. .

Besides, many "Rescue XP" campaigns have been launched on the Internet, because many users and experts still seem attached to this operating system.

In their eyes, Vista is still very vulnerable and difficult to use, more restrictive than " predecessor ".

Many analysts believe that Microsoft "renewed" Windows XP is because it does not want the ultra-cheap laptop market to fall into the hands of open source Linux rivals, although its representatives insist on this judgment.