Microsoft has shared a few details about the first service packs for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, and they seem to be a relatively minor affair. According to a company spokesman, Windows 7 Service Pack 1 will mostly contain "minor updates," along with the usual inclusion of previous patches and hotfixes.
Among the handful of new features is an updated Remote Desktop client that takes advantage of RemoteFX, a new remote access platform set to launch with Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1. Another new addition to Server 2008 R2 is called "Dynamic Memory," which allows virtual machine memory to be configured on the fly.
Given the limited scope of SP1, Microsoft suggests that customers upgrade to the latest version of Windows sooner, rather than later. Redmond says Windows 7 is ready for commercial deployments now, and many organizations are jumping aboard. A recent survey of over 900 IT administrators showed that 46% wouldn't wait for SP1.
Redmond hasn't released an official timeframe for the forthcoming service packs, but they'll be delivered through Windows Update once available. Many speculate that SP1 will arrive in time for Christmas, and if Vista's SP1 launch pattern is any indication, it will land sometime in late November 2010.