Confirming our story about the service pack going final yesterday:

Microsoft Corp. today announced the release to manufacturing of Windows® XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), a package of updates for Windows XP, the company's most advanced and fastest-selling Windows licenses. Windows XP SP1 brings enhanced security, reliability and compatibility to business and home users. Windows XP Service Pack 1 will be available to the general public Monday, Sept. 9.

"Microsoft is always focused on improving the reliability and security of Windows for our customers, and Service Pack 1 is the latest delivery on our commitment to those customers," said Jim Allchin, group vice president for the Platforms Products Group at Microsoft. "Windows XP is the most secure and dependable operating system we have ever produced, but our work doesn't end when we ship the product. Windows XP Service Pack 1, along with services such as Windows Update, are examples of how we help customers keep their PCs updated with the latest and greatest technology."
Windows XP SP1 Provides Enhanced Security:

Windows XP SP1 includes all of the security patches available via Windows Update. It also contains all updates resulting from the Windows code review conducted earlier this year as part of the Trustworthy Computing initiative.

In addition to the traditional service pack updates, Windows XP SP1 delivers the required changes of the proposed consent decree signed with the U.S. Department of Justice and nine state attorneys general. The changes allow both computer manufacturers and users to remove end-user access to Microsoft® Internet Explorer browser software, Windows Media™ Player, Windows Messenger, Outlook® Express and Microsoft's Java virtual machine. This is just one of many components of the compliance effort undertaken by Microsoft since the consent decree was signed in November 2001.

Windows XP SP1 Availability:

Windows XP SP1 will be available to the general public Monday, Sept. 9, on the Windows XP Web site via download or CD fulfillment.

Source:ActiveWin

Microsoft announced that,"Windows XP Service Pack 1 can be downloaded for free or ordered on CD beginning September 9th."

Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) provides the latest security, reliability, and performance updates to the Windows XP family of operating systems. Windows XP SP1 is designed to ensure Windows XP platform compatibility with newly released software and hardware, and includes updates that resolve issues discovered by customers or by Microsoft's internal testing team.
hxxp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/