Windows XP SP2 Hits Retail
Starting this week, major retail chains began selling Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), the latest version of Microsoft's desktop operating system.
"Microsoft began shipping retail boxes to retailers last week, so they will start showing up on store shelves worldwide throughout the month," said a spokesman with Microsoft's Windows client division.
Among the U.S. retailers offering the Home and/or Professional versions of the product , according to Microsoft, are Amazon.com, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Fry's, J&R Computer World, Micro Center, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Target and Wal Mart.
Some of Microsoft's PC partners are just starting now to preload new machines with Windows XP SP2, as opposed to plain-vanilla XP — an expected move which is meeting with mixed reactions from resellers.
Microsoft officials said they had no information to share regarding when leading PC makers will begin bundling the product.
As of September 30, about 40 million copies of Windows XP SP2 had been downloaded by users, according to Microsoft. The vast majority of these copies have been pushed to users via Microsoft's Windows Update/Automatic Update patching systems. Microsoft also has made available to users with slower networking connections a CD version of SP2.
