New Vista Promises

Microsoft took their lumps from press and customers about Vista, something that happens with all their new operating systems. But they usually redeem themselves somewhat with the first Service Pack, called SP1. These major upgrades come out rarely (XP is only up to SP2 now) but they fix many shortcomings and add new features.

The news for Vista SP1 varies from that tradition. In A Closer Look: Beta Vista Service Pack 1, we read there are a few improvements, but nothing major enough to warrant the term “Service Pack.”

Good news: better file transfer speeds and a fix to the hibernation problem. Bad news: none of the improvements people have been clamoring for are included. Of course, Microsoft would say (if they talked about this type of stuff, which they won't) that the Service Pack isn't finished, which is why it's a beta. True enough. But a beta released to anyone who wants to try it usually includes all the major features it will have in final release.

If that's the case, Microsoft may find itself the subject of a new rule: wait for SP2. Wouldn't that be embarrassing for Bill and Steve's Excellent Software Adventure?

• SMB
• Microsoft
• SP1
• Vista