Vista SP1 release schedule announced

[bill]

Microsoft’s Evolving Approach to Servicing the Windows Platform [microsoft.com]

We’re targeting the first quarter of 2008, but the exact date really depends on feedback we receive from testers and the work we put into making sure we understand the feedback we receive. We’re making a beta available to more than 10,000 people in the next few weeks – that’s a critical step for us on the road to release, and we’re looking forward to the feedback we’ll get.

The SP1 beta testing group is currently quite small. MS will will gradually increase the number of testers until it is eventually opened up to the MSDN network. That will be at the pre-release stage.

This announcement isn't really news. Many have speculated that SP1 would indeed be released in the first quarter of 2008. However, MS has not made an offical announcement until now.

[BillyS]

I didn't want to wait this long to buy Vista - too bad.

[bill]

Well, actually if you look at what MS is offering in this Service Pack it's not really much more than patches. If you deployed Vista today you're not in for much of a change when the SP is released.

Previous versions of Windows have seen some major functionality added with the first Service Pack. That doesn't seem to be the case with Vista. If you're already planning to buy Vista there don't seem to be many compelling reasons to wait for SP1 to be released.

[shigamoto]

I agree with Bill, Service Pack 1 contains all previously released security patches, other patches relating to Vista stability and performance (such as faster file copying, hibernation and start-up times).

The pack will also contain drivers. Microsoft will give BitLocker some attention, and you will now be able to encrypt not only system drives but also external ones.