Microsoft is now releasing Service Pack 3 for Windows XP as a near-final release candidate. Unlike the December 3rd release which was exclusive only to MSDN and Technet members, this release is being made available to the public.

Microsoft has posted the documentation for SP3, and you can find the download available on various sites around the Internet. No word yet on when Microsoft will actually post SP3 to their own site, but for the time being it can be downloaded at various other sites.

For most Windows users, SP3 is probably not very likely to bring anything too notable. It is basically a compilation update of all updates that have come out since the 2004 release of SP2. Those features which are new to SP3 are not likely to affect the majority of end users. One of the new features is a change to the Windows Activation procedure. The company puts it like this:

“As in Windows Server 2003 SP2 and Windows Vista, users can now complete operating system installation without providing a product key during a full, integrated installation of Windows XP SP3. The operating system will prompt the user for a product key later as part of Genuine Advantage. As with previous service packs, no product key is requested or required when installing Windows XP SP3 using the update package available through Microsoft Update.”

So, if you want SP3 now, you can go and get it. It is a release candidate, but it is evolved enough where I wouldn’t expect any headaches.