Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) released the first public service pack for its Windows Vista computer operating system Wednesday amid a lack of fanfare by the tech media. Well, from what I saw, anyway. Microsoft's "service pack" is generally regarded as a collection of bug fixes that address certain problems within the software itself, although Microsoft as always downplayed that angle, maintaining that a service pack is more akin to adding new and exciting features more than anything else.Why is this significant? Windows Vista, which the world's largest software company hopes will continue turning its cash-flow machine for many years to come, still needs major acceptance from large businesses and non-consumer segments. Windows Vista has not sold at retail at near the level Microsoft had hoped, although almost every new PC comes with at least the "Basic" version of the operating system.
But with the service pack's impending release (SP1, or "Service Pack 1"), that is the tipping point for probably thousands of companies who have said they'd hold off on transitioning to Windows Vista until the first service pack was released.
Well, it's almost here. The SP1 released yesterday for public consumption was the "Release Candidate 1" (or RC1) version of the service pack. After a few more "release candidates" are made public and tested, Microsoft will be ready to release the final service pack and start lobbying all those large, waiting business customers to upgrade. If it gets what it wants, Ol' Softie will see some large-revenue quarters in 2008.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-13-2007 @ 4:07PM
Ivan said...
Uhm, actually it's a public beta of the service pack. Not the final version, not being pushed through normal Windows Updates... not really that big of a deal either.
Just a beta.
12-16-2007 @ 11:13AM
Brandon said...
If any I.T. department is wise, they would NEVER give up their XP Pro to go to Vista. I have personally upgraded [sic] back to XP Pro on my machines at home and at work. Vista is the worst O.S. ever developed.
10-27-2008 @ 8:53AM
tom said...
since i was forced to update my vista system, i now have a problem with windows. every time i try to log on i receive a error that shuts down windows and then reboots my computer. I guess micro soft does not want people to use Aol.
Like the new tv adds, did anyone notice....THEY NEVER SHOW THE PRODUCT EVER. But all those people say good things about it.
I have not found one good thing yet. In fact I have not used that computer for 4 months.
DON'T BUY A GATEWAY OR VISTA MAINLY FROM BEST BUY there is no support.