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Microsoft finishes work on Windows Vista SP2 update
As the final release of Windows 7 draws near, Microsoft announced it has wrapped up work on the second service pack for Windows Vista and Server 2008. The update was released to PC manufacturers yesterday and will be available to the public via the company’s automatic updates mechanism before the end of the quarter.
As we have mentioned before, SP2 brings with it native support for Blu-ray burning and Bluetooth 2.1, improved Windows Search and easier Wi-Fi configuration. It also includes a bundle of all the updates and security fixes that have been released since the last service pack and will require SP1 as a prerequisite to avoid making it cumulative and therefore much a larger download. The total size of the update ranges from around 350MB (x86 five-language stand-alone) to more than 1.6 GB (all-language ISO image).
In addition, Microsoft is also disabling the Vista SP1 blocker tool as of today, which means those who haven’t already upgraded their systems will see the first service pack starting to appear in Windows Update.
As we have mentioned before, SP2 brings with it native support for Blu-ray burning and Bluetooth 2.1, improved Windows Search and easier Wi-Fi configuration. It also includes a bundle of all the updates and security fixes that have been released since the last service pack and will require SP1 as a prerequisite to avoid making it cumulative and therefore much a larger download. The total size of the update ranges from around 350MB (x86 five-language stand-alone) to more than 1.6 GB (all-language ISO image).
In addition, Microsoft is also disabling the Vista SP1 blocker tool as of today, which means those who haven’t already upgraded their systems will see the first service pack starting to appear in Windows Update.
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User Comments (6)
Post a comment| tengeta on April 29, 2009 4:24 PM | At this point, the only two issues I'm having with Vista is adopting older machines that simply won't run it, and Wi-Fi quality that rivals an 80's cell phone the minute the signal isn't at 5 bars. If this fixes the wi-fi part, I'm 100% satisfied... certainly took long enough.
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| Julio on April 29, 2009 6:49 PM | With the release of Windows 7 RC1 and the eventual RTM I see this second Vista service pack as nothing but obsolete. It's not the same case as with XP because that's a more widespread mainstream platform, which Vista failed to become. Windows 7 on the other hand is an improved and much polished version of Vista which any consumer or early adopter will have to transition to sooner or later.
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| jink on April 30, 2009 9:56 AM | And I suppose, Julio, MS will then offer a free upgrade to all users of their prematurely obsolete Vista OS? The Microsoft Tax continues to escalate far beyond the Apple Tax with much less offered in return.
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| Julio on April 30, 2009 2:31 PM | I wouldn't compare to Apple who also releases paid OS updates every couple of years, but I agree that Microsoft should offer some kind of incentive to Vista users. Especially those that bought the standalone software box rather than all customers including OEM.
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| DarkCobra on April 30, 2009 2:31 PM | Julio is right that Windows 7 will quickly become the predominate platform. However, i also think it's not a bad idea to keep Vista current for a bit longer. There will be a lot of people not wanting to so quickly leap over to Windows 7 until they see it's truly a safe place to land.
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| IanDSamson on May 1, 2009 9:09 AM | Originally posted by DarkCobra: Julio is right that Windows 7 will quickly become the predominate platform. However, i also think it's not a bad idea to keep Vista current for a bit longer. There will be a lot of people not wanting to so quickly leap over to Windows 7 until they see it's truly a safe place to land. It will be the XP Users who do not want to "quickly leap over to Windows 7". For Vista users, Win7 is exactly the same graphical user interface, there are just some system changes, that's all. Don't get scared off by Win7, just make sure your hardware can handle this type of major software release. Windows 7 will be the platform for a long time, until MS moves Windows Server 2008 into the next realm.XP users, change or die.
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