Another Day With My PC

Microsoft has recently announced the availability of the latest (and you could bet your motherboard that it’s going to be the last) service pack for its best-selling OS. The release of Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) was devoid of any fanfare, though.

The glitter-less presentation of XP’s major update is not surprising. Aside from the fact that Redmond is not that keen on giving a few more oxygen tanks on its aging software, Service Pack 3 hardly packs any punch at all. Its seeming irrelevance is highlighted further by the fact that the upgrade is merely optional.

Mere Collection of Previous and New Updates

XP users are not expected to rise up in arms against Microsoft’s nonchalance on their OS. Everybody knows that no overhaul could transform XP to Vista, and SP3 is far from being the upgrade or renovation that would restore a bit of youth to this once dominant OS.

To satisfy your curiosity (in case you still have any), SP3 is a collection of updates, many of which have already been released before. If you’ve been very generous in offering precious hard drive space to the updates that Microsoft have been regularly issuing, then you might find SP3 as nothing but a big zipped file of all the patches that you’ve downloaded during the past several months. Of course, there’s more to SP3 than just a big hairball of updates. However, they’re either negligible or too few to be easily noticed.

To Download or Not to Download

I doubt if many would immediately download the latest service pack. The fact that it’s optional further dampens whatever enthusiasm that XP users have over the upgrade. Some even argue that it would be better not to download SP3 at all, and their contentions are quite convincing.

Skeptics point to the fact that SP3 could wreak havoc on some systems. Just like in SP2, the SP3 installer would first advise you to back up your files as it is possible that unforeseen or unavoidable disruptions could occur which could temporarily or permanently jumble up the data and programs in your hard drive. If you depend too much on your PC on just about anything, would you risk it for an upgrade that you either already have or do not need? I think the question has already answered itself.

Only if You’re Ready

Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m not suggesting a snub. All I’m saying is that there’s no urgency in installing the update. Therefore, do not go out of your way and put a halt to the things that you’re doing just so that you could download the update. Do so when you have the time and when you’re prepared for the consequences. Any update is, of course, beneficial. But it doesn’t mean that it is also necessary.

If you’re really eager in stacking your hard drive with additional files, then by all means do so. I myself would download it over the weekend (my old desktop runs on XP). Before you download it, make sure that you’ve uninstalled any beta version of XP3. Microsoft also suggests that you use IE7 when downloading SP3.

Talk about one-upping malware authors.

Microsoft recently blew two bombs on its face that were originally intended for its enemies. The patches that it recently released to bolster the security of its latest Web browser turned out to be the more dangerous threat to its customers’ systems. The first killer pill that it released was supposed to be its answer to threats from Web pages that have infected COM objects. Users who log on or browse through these infected sites could inadvertently allow other people to take control of their PC. The second one deals with Internet Explorer 7’s property method.

Freeze!

There were no figures given as to how many users were affected by the poisoned patches. Vista users who have downloaded and installed it might experience a system freeze or crash. The problem is caused by IE 7’s inability to utilize or recognize the changes in the location of Window’s Temporary Internet Files folder.

Vista users are not the only ones affected by the problem. Reports say that Windows XP SP2, 2000 SP4, and Server 2003 users might not be able to access Windows or Microsoft Update after they’ve installed the defective patches.

Earnest Effort

We all know that Microsoft is always frantically plugging holes in its products, especially in its operating systems. Sometimes the Redmond company finishes first. Of course, that isn’t usually the case. Many of the tears in its applications are usually discovered after they’ve been exploited. Hence, they usually release patches or updates with a red face.

I pity the programmers at Microsoft for always being blamed for everything that goes wrong with XP and Vista. Sure, they’re the ones who have created it. However, bugs and glitches are already indelible facts of computing life. People shouldn’t be too harsh in condemning software authors for their PC mishaps.

I’m not saying that programmers should be exonerated for all the imperfections of their creations, though. As every product has a warranty that it’s free from defects, or at least that a solution would be provided for by the manufacturer should an inherent defect be found, it’s only right that software makers should continuously see to it that their products would be able to function despite the threats around it. Updates or patches are great ways by which application authors warrant the viability of their goods.

Goodwill

The task or responsibility of a manufacturer towards its product doesn’t end upon the ringing of the cash register. It’s not enough that it should see to it that its creation meets the expectations of the consumer. Many companies are investing on ways by which they would be able to make their old customers feel that they’ve made the right choice when they bought the product. Releasing patches or updates is one of the ways by which businesses, especially software companies, could assure their customers that the product that they’ve bought will be able to sail through any contingency that might not have been possible or perceived during the time the program was originally released.

• Nov 19 : Mac Fans are Just as Vulnerable as PC Users
• Nov 14 : Cartoon of the Week
• Nov 12 : Should You Trust User Reviews?
• Nov 10 : YouTube Adds Freemantle Content
• Nov 7 : Orange Unveils Free Asus Laptop