Vista SP1 arrives at last - with a March download date!

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 04 February 2008 18:32

Opinion and Analysis

With Vista SP1 available for download by consumers in March, and the release of Windows Server 2008 on March 1, with both having gone to RTM today, two major milestones for 2008 are complete, but there’s still plenty left on Microsoft’s plate.

Looks like the TechARP story that Vista SP1 was due on the fourth of February was right, following Microsoft’s announcement that Vista SP1 went RTM today, alongside Windows Server 2008.

That means brand new computers with SP1 will be in stores relatively soon, depending on how much existing stock is still in the system, but consumers won’t be able to download Vista SP1 until March, with Microsoft saying that their ‘Volume Licensing’ customers will be first to be able to download it.

This presumes that regular consumers at home will have to wait even longer before SP1 can be downloaded through the Windows Update software, or simply downloaded from the Internet, but perhaps this is a blessing in disguise as Microsoft gets an additional three and a half weeks to iron out any final bugs before the vast majority of consumers gets the ability to download and install the final SP1 version.

Although Microsoft says that Windows Server 2008 will be available for retail sale come March 1, they also say that Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 will officially launch on February 27.

Windows Server 2008 is Microsoft’s latest weapon against Linux, Unix and Apple in the corporate space, with Microsoft placing great hope that all their new versions will keep the Windows cash cow mooing for quite some time yet.

Microsoft says that "Windows Server 2008 was developed in tandem with the Windows Vista code base, it has most of that operating system’s advanced management and security features, such as integrated Network Access Protection (NAP) and Group Policy".

Their press release continues that: "Customers will also see system-wide performance improvements from an integrated system architecture, including network file sharing, managed quality of service and reduced power consumption. Common tools and processes across both operating systems will result in efficiencies for IT organizations".

Bob Visse, senior director of the Windows Server Marketing Group at Microsoft said that: “We’ve been working with partners around the world who are creating solutions that take advantage of the new platform’s feature set. There’s been tremendous support for the operating system and a lot of excitement around the opportunity it represents for the industry.”

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