Yesterday, Microsoft finalized the Release Candidate 2 (RC2) code for three products: Windows 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1), Windows 2003 x64 Edition, and XP Pro x64 Edition. Each of these RC builds includes performance, stability, and security enhancements when compared with previous builds, as well as minor feature changes, Microsoft tells me.
Windows 2003 SP1 RC2 is now available as a public download, but the two x64 products are available only to beta testers for now. All three products are expected to ship in final form by late March.
The x64 versions of Windows 2003 and XP Pro are designed to run on PC and server systems based on AMD 64 and Intel's Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T) microprocessors, which combine the compatibility of the 32-bit x86 platform with the advanced memory capabilities of 64-bit systems.
To help auger in the new era of x64 hardware, Microsoft will begin accepting submissions for the Windows 2003 x64 and XP x64 "Designed for Windows" logo program. The company would like device makers and PC makers to qualify their products for the logo so that customers can identify which products will work with the new systems. I'll be reviewing Windows 2003 SP1, Windows Server x64, and XP x64 on the SuperSite for Windows soon.
You must be a registered user or online subscriber to comment on this article. Please log on before posting a comment. Are you a new visitor?
Register now
An often irreverent look at some of the week's other news, including some more Windows 7 sales momentum, some Sophos stupidity, Microsoft's cloud computing self-loathing, more whining from the browser makers, Zoho's "Fake Office," and much, much more ...
Let Your Users Reset Their Own Passwords: Free Download Try a 30 day free trial of Desktop Authority Password Self-Service – it provides an easy-to-use, robust system for allowing users to reset their own forgotten passwords or locked accounts.
Get Windows IT Pro & Mark Minasi’s Favorite Power Tools Guide Order Windows IT Pro now and get "More of Mark Minasi's Favorite Power Tools"--a in-depth guide to the most useful Windows commands --FREE with your paid order! Subscribe today, and save 58% off the cover price!
Deep Dive into VMware vSphere, eLearning Series Join John Savill to explore the major functionality capabilities of the vSphere virtualization platform, including identification of the changes from ESX 3.5.
Register
Anonymous User February 09, 2005