While they are bullish about Windows XP SP2 (Service Pack 2), PC makers aren"t putting all of their security eggs in the Microsoft basket. PC vendors are well on their way toward getting SP2, Microsoft Corp."s most recent operating-system update, preloaded on all of their new machines. But many PC vendors are complementing—and in some cases replacing—SP2 features with third-party products.
Take Hewlett-Packard Co., for instance. HP is currently preloading SP2 on its Pavilion and Compaq Presario lines, as well as on its HP Media Center PCs (which run the Windows XP Media Center Edition variant of SP2). But HP isn"t using SP2 as is, said Carol Ozaki, senior product manager for consumer PCs at HP. Instead, the company is replacing the Windows Security Center status bar with Symantec"s Norton Security Center.