Now is the time and the time is now: let's talk about Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1). Much has been made of what will or will not be included in SP1 and when it will be released (some accurate, some otherwise). I'm here to set the story straight: we're in the process of developing and deploying a Beta version of SP1." This is how Nick White, Product Manager at Microsoft starts to describe what to expect from the much commented Vista SP1.
What is Vista SP1? What is it not? In addition to updates we’ve previously released, SP1 will contain changes focused on addressing specific reliability and performance issues we’ve identified via customer feedback, supporting new types of hardware, and adding support for several emerging standards. SP1 also makes additional improvements to the IT administration experience. We didn’t design SP1 as a vehicle for releasing new features; however, some existing components do gain enhanced functionality in SP1.
When can I get my hands on the Beta of SP1? A Beta release of Windows Vista SP1 is slated for availability in the next few weeks. A small group of testers has been putting a preview of the SP1 Beta through its paces to help prepare for broader release. We made the choice to start with a very small group of testers because we think it’s better for both our customers and for Microsoft to keep the beta program small at the start.
In addition to security upgrades, David Zipkin, an MS product manager, tells the Seattle Post Intelligencer's Todd Bishop that the upgrade will fix Vista's slow copying and unzipping of files, and address delays people experience when they resume their machines from hibernation (which, in my experience, has long been a primary Windows failure). The upgrade will also let Vista handle external drives formatted in something called exFat.
Microsoft is also going to put out another service pack for Windows XP, the third since that last-generation OS debuted in 2001. It will be the last major revision of XP. After that, say goodbye.
