Windows Vista SP2 almost ready for public consumption
Windows 7 may be dominating the Microsoft-concerned headlines at the moment, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that Windows Vista users still need supporting, especially after they stayed loyal to the company when the operating system was being lambasted from every corner. Good news then that Vista SP2 is almost ready for public consumption. Almost, but not quite.
In a post on the Windows Team blog, Brendan LeBlanc announced that Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 has been released to manufacturing. The RTM will be made available to OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) immediately, with a vague Q2 2009 promised for further public distribution. That means we should have it by the end of June at the latest.
SP2 hit torrent sites even before the blog was updated stating it was finished. Those of us who don’t want to obtain it in that way will have to wait for it to be released via automatic updates in the next month or two. MSDN and TechNet subscribers haven’t yet got access to it but that is expected to happen in the next few days.
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 is expected to contain a host of improvements in security and performance, as well as some new features. These include Windows Search 4.0, Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack, the long-awaited chance to record onto Blu-ray media natively, Windows Connect Now (WCN) which makes Wi-Fi configuration much simpler, and improvement to the exFAT file system allowing correct file synchronization across time zones.
Vista users who aren’t ready to upgrade to SP2 can use the Service Pack blocking tool to prevent their system from automatically downloading and installing the update. However, the SP1 blocking tool has now expired, meaning those who have yet to install Service Pack 1 will now be forced to do so.
This service pack, once it finally hits, should make Vista even more stable and user-friendly than it already is. Although many people still aren’t fans of the OS, Vista has improved massively since release and should soon be as good as it is ever going to be. Then we just have to wait a few more months until Windows 7 gets released and hopefully the world will move on.
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April 30th, 2009
“However, the SP1 blocking tool has now expired, meaning those who have yet to install Service Pack 1 will now be forced to do so.”
One thing about Microsoft: if you have their software on your PC, there’s no doubting who’s running the show.
“This service pack, once it finally hits, should make Vista even more stable and user-friendly than it already is.”
Even better? Seriously? Who would’ve thought that such heights could be scaled, even by the geniuses at Redmond?
“[...] hopefully the world will move on.”
The world is already moving on – and leaving Microsoft behind.