Microsoft has begun making a near-final Release Candidate test build of <A HREF="http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1038&tag=nl.e622">Windows XP Service Pack 3</A> available to anyone interested in trying out the new build--the same way that it is doing with Vista SP1. Microsoft has begun posting XP SP3 RC documentation to its Microsoft Download site, which is open to the general public. Microsoft officials have said the final XP SP3 bits should be available some time in the first half of 2008.