Windows 2000 SP5 dropped

[Spinner]

It looks like Service Pack 5 for Windows 2000 just isn't going to happen. It would seem that instead of a much needed new service pack, a little Update Rollup will be released, once more giving the corporate world a un-helpfull nudge back into the direction of the Microsoft recommended upgrade ladder.

A source close to Microsoft today sent me documentation about an Update Rollup for Windows 2000 that the software giant will release in 2005 in lieu of a Service Pack 5 (SP5). "The Update Rollup will contain all security-related updates produced for Windows 2000 between SP4 and the time when Microsoft finalizes the contents of the Update Rollup, and a small number of important non-security updates," the documentation reads. "Because Microsoft believes the Update Rollup will better meet the needs of customers than a new service pack, there will not be a Service Pack 5 (SP5) for Windows 2000. Therefore, SP4 becomes the final service pack for Windows 2000." So there you go.
What a nice way to treat their best OS to date...

Source: Windowsitpro (http://www.windowsitpro.com/windowspaulthurrott/Article/ArticleID/44604/windowspaulthurrott_44604.html)

[Shivian]

Hooray for the advancement of bloatware! :p

[primesuspect]

They did this same crap with SP7 on NT4.

[pseudonym]

Well, thats what happens when a company gets big and is run by stockholders and bean counters; no more free stuff ;)

[Shivian]

No more free stuff? I think it's going the other way. They pack as much crap as they can and say "You'll need a computer upgrade to run this new OS. Requires 512MB of ram...", and try to kill off the competition by making the OS able to do everything, regardless of how inefficient they do it.

[Thrax]

They can't do that any more. Antitrust.

Microsoft gives the OS what people want? OMG MONOPOLY WTFFFFZZZZ..
Microsoft takes away what's mandated? OS is too sparse.

Double standards; the court of public opinion is lame.