No one knows when IE8 Final will be released.

Your second question is answered in the last link I posted. Did you read
that page?...

<QP>
The IE8 [upgrade] will be released as the highest priority update for each
operating system. For Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, it will be
listed as Important. For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, the update will
be listed as High Priority...
</QP>

tina wrote:
> so the final release would be after march 31, 2009? what classification
> would the update be rolled out under?
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Also see
>> http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...ble-today.aspx
>> --
>> ~PA Bear
>>
>> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>>> [Crossposted to IE Beta, IE General, & WU newsgroups; Followup-To set
>>> for
>>> IE
>>> General]
>>>
>>> Let the rumors begin!...
>>>
>>> Toolkit to Disable Automatic Delivery of Internet Explorer 8
>>> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...e-8e224ec6dd8c
>>>
>>> Internet Explorer 8 Blocker Toolkit: Frequently Asked Questions
>>> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/u.../dd365124.aspx
>>>
>>> IE8: What's after Beta 2?
>>> ["We will release one more public update of IE8 in the first quarter of
>>> 2009, and then follow that up with the final release."]
>>> http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...er-beta-2.aspx
>>>
>>> NB: There were at least three (3) IE7 Release Candidates before IE7
>>> Final
>>> was released about two years ago so YMMV.