IE8 Beta 1 and Windows XP SP3 - Microsoft: IE8 Beta 1 will run on XP SP3 when it’s available

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Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 is the first taste of the next iteration of Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Delivered to the general public following the MIX08 presentation of Dean Hachamovitch, General Manager Internet Explorer, IE8 Beta 1 is available for download for a variety of flavors of Windows. According to the official Microsoft download page for IE8 Beta 1, the
browser is designed to integrate with the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista RTM, Windows Vista SP1, Windows XP SP2, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003 SP2. As you can see, there is a notable exception from this list: Windows XP SP3.

There is no IE8 Beta 1 download available for XP SP3. With the third and final service pack for Windows XP in Release Candidate 2 stage at this point in time, it is clear that Microsoft is ignoring XP SP3, while the service pack is not finished. According to the Redmond company, XP SP3 is planned to be released to manufacturing by mid-2008, at which time time there will be a version of Internet Explorer 8, probably even Beta 1 that will integrate with the operating stage.

IE8 Beta 1 Running on XP SP3 pre-RTM
When I approached a Microsoft spokesperson about the issue of the missing IE8 Beta 1 for Windows XP SP3 download, this is the answer I got: "Yes, it will run on Windows XP SP3 when it’s available." I asked why wasn't an IE8 version delivered for XP SP3 from the get-go, whether the first beta of Internet Explorer 8 would even install on XP SP3 pre-RTM, and when would the Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Windows XP SP2 release be joined by an Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Windows XP SP3 download. The above answer was the sole provided. But, despite the fact that IE8 Beta 1 fails to install on pre-release versions of Vista SP1 or on debugged versions of Vista, Vista SP1, or Windows Server 2008, it will install without any issues on pre-RTM XP SP3.

Download Windows XP Pro Service Pack 3 Build 2 - New, fresh release!

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Windows XP Pro SP3 Build 2 is immediately available for download. This Windows edition includes a luxuriant variety of bonuses starting with a Windows Vista theme, Microsoft
Office 2003 Full...SlipStreamed 75 MB, Adobe Reader 7, MSN Messenger, Firefox and Winrar. The downloadable file is a 695 MB designed to be burned on a single CD.

Obviously, this is not an official Microsoft release. First off, according to the Windows Service Pack Road Map, delivered by Microsoft, on a Microsoft website: "SP3 for Windows XP Home Edition is currently planned for 1H CY2008. This date is preliminary." 1H CY2008 means the first half of 2008.

Windows XP Pro SP3 Build 2 is instead a pirate version of, probably XP SP2. And it is authored by Amit Talkin. You can even contact him at amit_talkin@yahoo.com. "Completely silent, unattended and activation free, no serial needed. I recommended you to make new & clean installation...dont upgrade from previous release.. It dosent require to put CD- key ...just start setup..and go away from pc...it will not ask u abt anything!!" Talkin describes his product.

Windows XP Pro SP3 Build 2 also delivers the following:

- hotfixes added till january 2006!!
- Boot Screen FIxed
- Logon Screen Fixed
- More Tweaks added For faster Performance
- More Themes added...and VIsta XP theme as default
- Some softwares included as below...
- Office 2003 SP2 With Frontpage!
- Firefox 1.5
- quick time alternative 1.67
- Adobe Reader 7.05
- Also included Microsoft Office 2003 Professional SP 2
- MIcrosoft Virtual CD
- TweakUI
- Some Tweak Tools ( see in the control panel )
- Winrar 3.51 + Themes ( evalution version...download crack from anywhere...Many Themes Included!! )
- OSX Cursors Pack
- Unlocker 1.7.6
- Tweaks For Internet Explorer ( maximum simultaneos download limit is 10 now )
- WMP 10 + Updated
- New Icons
- New Drivers ( Mass Storage & Wireless Lan )
- Drivers Problem Fixed
- Enhanced Visual Effects
- No CD-Key!!
- Codec Packs..
- Registry Watcher ( will be useful to find applictions registry entry & its effects )
Some System Utilities ( see SYSTEM TOOLS IN START MENU )

Logon Screen Is same as past version!!

From Previous Release
- uxtheme.dll patched
- hacked WGA ( genuine advantage validation hacked )
- maximum simultaneous connection limit removed
- windows file protection desabled
- Default Vista Theme & Enhanced Bootskin and logon skin!!
- Registry Tweaks Added For Better Performance
- All Device Drivers 400 MB!!!
Integrated Applications

I wrote this article for the sake of a few good laughs. If you were expecting a link I have to disappoint you. By the looks of the description, this thing is cracked to such an extent that the proportion of malicious code inserted is outweighing the Windows source code.

Asustek's Eee PC Gets Official With Microsoft's Windows XP - However, their friendship will last only about three months

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Eee computers have been running Windows XP for quite some time now, thanks to the ultra-mobile PC enthusiasts that would shape the little device to suit their needs. Asustek decided that it was high time
for the secret relationship between the machine and Microsoft's OS to go official and introduced its Windows XP version.

The new choice of operating system will let users buy a pre-loaded Windows XP machine instead of the eye-candy, but mysterious Linux-based Xandros OS. Part of the "Easy to learn, work, and play" philosophy, the manufacturer will ship a number of Windows Live products, such as Mail, Messenger, Photo Gallery, and the "Family Safety" parental controls suite along with the operating system.

Another release will be the entry-level Microsoft Works suite, but it will be available in some regions only, as the software cannot run on some versions that have localization restrictions.

The new operating system has raised some concerns with the Eee PC owners because of the rumors regarding the wear-leveling algorithms that are alleged to increase the lifespan of the included solid-state drive. While the vast majority of Linux-based operating systems (and some embedded version of Windows) would treat the computer's solid-state drive gently thanks to the built-in wear-leveling algorithms, the default version of Windows XP won't pay any attention to this aspect.

However, I must say again that there is no danger in using Windows XP on Eee's solid-state drive. Eee's flash drive is estimated to have a lifespan of between 1 to 5 million write cycles before wearing-out failure would normally occur. However, given the fact that it's SSD device can write at speeds of 3MB/s at most (as opposed to regular SSDs' writing speeds of about 80 MB/s), wearing out would occur after more than 84 years of constant writing on the same SSD.

The Eee PC is not officially priced as of the moment of writing, but it is alleged that the Windows XP version will come at a $30 to $60 premium over the Linux model. There's one question that remains unanswered: what will happen to the Windows XP version of the Eee in July, when Windows XP will be phased out by Microsoft?

The Fastest Loading Website - The major influences over page rendering speed

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The performance of applications is a general concern in software development. In the particular area of web applications, the web pages loading speed is an important factor that directly influences the website success. From the theoretical point of view, there are many aspects determining the minimal time needed by web browsers to render a certain web page.

Many free tools to measure and optimize the web pages loading
speed are available over the Internet. YSlow is an add on for Firefox web browser and works integrated in Firebug. It is provided by Yahoo! Inc. and it gives you a performance report by verifying if a certain web page code and components are in compliance with some essential performance criteria. By following the suggested performance rules, you can re-evaluate your website structure and repair the issues that decrease the web pages loading speed in web browsers.

YSlow verifies the next characteristics that determines a certain web page rendering speed: the number of HTTP requests, the presence or absence of a content delivery network, expire header, GZip components, the position of stylesheets and scripts relative to the top or bottom of the web page, CSS expressions, internal or external scripts and more. On the Yahoo! website, these factors influencing the optimal rendering speed of a web page are explained in details and, as a consequence, you will be able to identify the code structures or other page components that increase the time needed by a web browser to render a certain web page.

YSlow add-on will help you optimize your website in order to have faster loading web pages, but is also recommended to have in mind all the basic rules of web pages optimization (not only 14) and to use other speed optimization and testing tools as a comparison method in order to obtain the highest performance.