And another from the same gentleman after I thanked him for his response...

It doesn't fit Russ' agenda (remember what his company does to make $$$), so I really didn't expect it to make the list ;-)

Just set back, grab a cold one, and what the inevitable cluster f$#! unfold over the next few weeks and months. The media spin (especially Russ's spin) should prove very entertaining.

Seems very few folks noticed just the other day the announcement was that SP2 was going to be delayed, then suddenly a day or two later it's RTM time. Got 4 contacts in Microsoft myself, each say the same thing, it was no where near ready for release, over 3,000 known bugs in it, 400+ considered critical.

I also find it funny that just a couple years ago Russ was always ranting about thinking twice about applying a patch, now we are at this stage of patch like mad men then deal with the problems later. Three years ago, Russ would of been saying exactly what you said and screaming bloody murder over how this is playing out.

Granted something needs done for sure, but I don't foresee XP SP2 being a cure or even much more than just a good start in the right direction. Then to see this poorly tested, not ready for RC status, more less RTM status code being dumped out there the way they are doing it....ouch! Never mind all the contradictions in what is being said, Auto Update is not a new thing, why is it such a cure all of a sudden, it's been around for years.

Do I think XP SP2 is a bad idea, nope, it's a start, it's a nice shift in mentality at Redmond, but unfortunately its set up for failure in the way a good idea is being shoved down folks throats. Curious what they will do when a year later this mess has done as much harm as good and the internet security issues we face today, are still there. I'll consider testing it for deployment again when it's XP SP2a or SP2b status, grin.

I really feel sorry for "joe average user" and the typical small business networks out there.

Next few months should be interesting to say the least.

No one in my firm want's to take me up on my bet that we'll see XP SP2a (or a silent update of the download files out there on the servers) by Thanksgiving, grin.

The spin is almost so predictable, you'll see mainstream media and web sites talking XP SP2 up for the next few weeks as the bugs are ignored, it'll take weeks before the real facts get out there, both the good and the bad.