Observation: Windows XP as a Platform
WinInfo | at | by Mike
There's something interesting going on with Windows XP, and I'm not so sure that many people have picked up on this subtle strategy shift, compared to previous Windows versions. With the continued delays for Longhorn, the next major Windows release, Microsoft seems to be digging in with Windows XP as the platform for Windows client releases over the next two years. Witness the sudden importance of Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), which will initiate a new round of OS upgrades, including Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, the Mira remote display technology, and Freestyle, the so-called "ten foot" digital media user interface. We've seen full Windows releases in the past that didn't offer such major updates, but this time around they're being delivered via a service pack.