Microsoft starts planning for the release of Vista SP1

It's the inevitable. After the release of a new application or Operating system by Microsoft, come the regular questions about the Service Pack. There are a number of people who actually believe that the software becomes stable only when the first Service Pack is released; so it is important for Microsoft to release information about the Service Pack. One can be sure that information will be released in bits and pieces, but it seems clear that the Service Pack will be available for restricted beta testing in September (this month) and then finally out sometime early 2008. Given the complexity of this new system, Microsoft will need a lot of time to make sure that the Service Pack can get as wide a testing as possible; after all, nothing hurts the company as much as the news about bad service packs. For example, when I installed Service Pack2 for Win XP, one of my hard disks became unusable and had to re-formatted losing all the data on the system. This may be an isolated case, but if it happens enough times, it makes for a lot of noise on tech forums and among Microsoft baiters.

After lots of whispers, rumours from beta testers and confusing messages from Microsoft executives, Microsoft has finally revealed the full details about Windows Vista's first service pack. The company confirmed a three-month launch window, with a beta testers getting their hands on the update during September.
Microsoft is saying only "a few weeks" and "September", which are, after all, one and the same, for the beta. As for the final release, the software maker finally acknowledged rumours circulating June that the service pack be fully available until the first quarter of 2008.

As time goes by, doubtless we will hear more about this service pack.