Where's Windows XP Service Pack 3 gone?

Having just replaced a dead hard disk, and re-installed XP Pro, I've once again had to spend a frustrating hour downloading over 170 megabytes worth of updates & fixes. More, in fact, if you count the ones that go in after the first round forces a reboot.

Microsoft's original release date for Windows XP Service Pack 3 was H1 2007. A quick look at their service pack road map reveals a rather nonchalant "SP3 for Windows XP Professional is currently planned for 1H CY2008. This date is preliminary."

The cynical amongst you will think Microsoft is being deliberately tardy in order to push a few more frustrated users on to the Vista upgrade path.

Now I've been on the Vista bandwagon, and like fast food it looks good on the outside but carries a few dark secrets on the inside. So after six months I concluded that, like fast food, Vista can be hard to stomach, and went back to my usual diet of XP Professional.

So come on Microsoft, get the finger out. We've all got better things to be doing than hogging the Windows update web site. Let's have Windows XP Service Pack 3 please, because I'm not going to Vista-land any time soon, and somehow I don't think I'm the only one.