Just been "a-googling" to find out when the SP3 is actually being released and came across this website

http://www.winsupersite.com/faq/xp_sp3.asp

Which has lots of FAQ on it about XP SP3 but it doesn`t get down to release dates until the last paragraph, which I hereby quote..

(notice on the last line, the latest update to the site was 21 APRIL 2008)

Q: When will Microsoft ship XP SP3?

A: Microsoft finalized Windows XP Service Pack 3 on April 21, 2008 and will release it publicly to the Web on April 29, 2008.

Here's the complete Windows XP SP3 release schedule:

RTM (release to manufacturing): April 21
Windows Update (optional update): April 29
Microsoft Download Center: April 29
MSDN/TechNet download: May 2
Windows XP SP3 fulfillment media (CD-based): May 19
Volume license customers download: June 1
Windows Update/Automatic Updates: June 10

--Paul Thurrott
October 12, 2007
Updated October 21, 2007;
December 5, 2007; March 19, 2008; March 27, 2008;
April 21, 2008


End of quote

It's already avaiable on MSDN as a top download.

It's already on my laptop but is about to be booted off to be replaced by Ubuntu Linux.

Not because SP3 or XP are that bad I hasten to add.

I'm dual booting with Ubuntu, can't get rid of windows due to software required for work