Vista SP2 beta due next week

The next update to Windows Vista will enter beta testing next week, bringing with it support for Blu-ray drives, among other enhancements.

In a blog posting on Friday, Microsoft confirmed that a beta version of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 will be released next week.

"Because we've adopted a single serviceability model, these improvements are integrated into a single service pack covering both Windows Vista (client) and Windows Server 2008 (server) versions," Windows executive Mike Nash said in a blog. "This should also minimize deployment and testing complexity for our customers."

The software maker said earlier this week that it was working on Vista SP2, but wouldn't go into detail. A support document posted this month, however, suggested a beta version was in the offing.

In addition to Blu-ray, Vista SP2 will add support for Bluetooth 2.1 as well as include Windows Search 4.0, the latest version of Microsoft's desktop search technology.

Microsoft encouraged those thinking about upgrading to Vista not to wait for SP2, however.

"One question I know that you will ask is 'should I wait for SP2?'," Nash said. "The reality is that Windows Vista SP1 is a great platform that is both available on new Windows PCs and available as a free download for systems that are running the 'gold' release of Windows Vista. While we will recommend SP2 when it ships, your best bet today is Windows Vista SP1."

Update: Asked about when Microsoft might ship SP2, a representative responded that "it is too early to talk about SP2's final release date."

"As always, the final release date is based on quality and we will track customer and partner feedback from the beta program before setting a final date for distribution," the representative said.

The announcement comes ahead of next week's Professional Developer Conference, where Microsoft is expected to detail Windows 7, as well as give developers a pre-beta version.

Update 2:As noted by ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley, A Microsoft site says to expect the final Vista SP2 release in the first half of 2009.

[Mr. Dee]

The rumor on some sites already based on leaked builds, it makes Vista even faster. So, I guess its actually worth the wait for a ripe Windows XP user wanting to upgrade.

[ajmas]

Nah, because SP1 is already pretty fast and works. When SP2 comes out you just install it and improve things even more. It's not like buying something with Vista SP1 now will make you need new hardware for SP2. You will be good.

Aaron

[The_Decider]

Faster? Compared to SP1? Maybe but that isn't saying much.

it is like MS saying Vista is more secure. Yes it is, but it is still swiss cheese.

[Lerianis]

Decider, get a life. Your anti-Microsoft BS is getting kinda old now. Windows Vista is no more a 'piece of swiss-cheese' than any other operating system out there right now - OSX, Linux, etc.: all of them have holes in them that can be taken advantage of given enough time and effort, and the ONLY reason you don't see those latter ones being taken advantage of: it's not worth it because they are not on a lot of consumer PC's yet. Wait until they get 20% market penetration..... you will see the floodgates open.

[dcardozo]

Lerianis, or you don't have any idea of what you're talking about, or you're just trolling.
I work with Windows because it has many advantages.
Security IS NOT one of them, and when a Windows fan says things like that, they make us all Windows users look pretty ignorant.
All Unix based operating systems have a better security architecture, because they were thought out from the start to be networked.
Windows still has underlying a big part of the DOS/Windows 3.1 structure. It had received layers and layers of make up over that, but the structural holes still appear often.
MS did this for compatibility issues, not for stupidity. It was a powerful market reason, and it was an important part of its huge success.
It's clear that all OS's have security issues.
But when you have a better foundation, it is A LOT HARDER to launch an attack which rate of propagation is cost efficient.

[ducttape36]

what is a 'gold' release?

[superswiss]

The 'gold' release is the version that hits the retail channels. The final release so to speak. In this context it's the original shipped Vista version prior to any patches and service packs.

[Gunady]

It's better that Microsoft could match the "enhancement" achieved by Windows XP SP2, at least 70%. If not, Steve Balmer suggestion to skip to Windows 7 makes more sense..

[john55440]

Hmmm. HP, for one, has been selling computers with Blu-Ray drives for a long time. I thought that Vista already supported them. I guess not...

[Lerianis]

It doesn't support them NATIVELY. Before Vista SP2, you had to buy a separate Blu-Ray player (usually PowerDVD) to play Blu-Ray discs on your system.

[superswiss]

My understanding is that they are rolling the Windows Storage Pack into SP2, which will add native Blu-Ray storage support, meaning you can burn and read Blu-Ray data disc. It doesn't add Blu-Ray movie support to Media Center and Media Player.

[Penguinisto]

@ducttape: "gold" is slang for "released to manufacturing", or basically 'released'.

I'll hold out to see what the third-party testing sites come up with for judgements on "speed" and "improvement".

/P

[sebastien.kalonji]

Like it even matters that they release an SP2?! Everyone knows Windows 7 will be much better and much faster so why even bother installing Vista.

[Lerianis]

Why? Because Windows 7 is not coming out for AT LEAST 2 years..... too long for most people, including myself, to wait for it. No, Vista is better than Windows XP, so Vista gets installed on all my systems from now on that aren't crapware system.

Ian looks like an ugly nerdy chick!!! At first glance in one video about giving children of the world inexpensive laptops, I thought he was a woman.

[hafenbrack]

I wondered about that too, so I looked it up in Wiki, and this is what I found. I make no claim to accuracy, but this is wha'ts published:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ina_Fried

[hafenbrack]

Also this is at the bottom of the story, in Ina's bio:

During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft.

[itworker--2008]

She also tags stories if it envoles gender related stories

http://news.cnet.com/beyond-binary/?categoryId=9799785&tag=mncol;tags

[sanenazok]

I was aware of the gender change, but never saw a video with Ina until you pointed it out. Definitely the gender switch must be an ongoing process...or not...maybe Ina doesn't want to take on a feminine voice...

[sanenazok]

Hey, by the time this comes around I may even swing for a BluRay drive. I don't want to spend $200 on a drive and another $80 on PowerDVD. By the time SP2 is done, the drives will be like $80. Now all I need is a bluray to divx converter and I'm in business.

[Canberra-photographer]

Honestly, which would you rather have people? "Windows Vista Home Premium with SP2 and new Blu Ray support" or something simpler, like "Mac OS X". The name says it all about Windows, even the name is bloated.

[belawrence]

You mean "Mac OS X-Tiger", "Mac OS X-Leopard", "Mac OS X-Snow Leopard", etc, all without Blu-ray Disc support.

[D3vildog699]

You are an idiot

[edentifier2]

Perhaps the largest 'bloat' in the industry is Apple users posting off topic to start flame wars against Microsoft.

Back to the topic: Vista SP1 is a good OS, but I like the direction Microsoft is taking with, for example, Windows Server 2008, and it's "install only the features you need" approach. I have that installed on my Desktop as a workstation OS, all the servers in my company, and Vista SP1 on my laptop.

My experience with Vista has been that, when first released, there were many basic driver issues; especially with Vista X64. Now the driver model is established (at least in 32 bit, 64 bit is still a little hit and miss), it has proven to be, in my opinion, a good, functional OS. It does however, need "slimming down" - the WinSXS directory is one example where a good idea could perhaps be implemented more efficiently...

I am glad to see that, apparently, the driver model is being 'standardised' for Vista, Windows Server 2008, and Windows 7. It should lead to easier acceptance, and wider compatibility from release of the next OS.

Introduce the "leaner" installation approach of Windows Server 2008 into Windows 7, and you have a good foundation for the next evolution of the MS operating system base.

[Lerianis]

The only reason that they are not putting out a 'leaner' version of Windows is because they have to support the myriad system configurations out there. Let's be real: 50% of a Vista installation is the farking drivers! They need to stop supporting things older than 5 years old and start telling people to either upgrade or download the drivers for their stuff online. Just include GENERIC drivers with their operating systems for everything from now on.

[Save_Me_from_my_Govt]

"The only reason that they are not putting out a 'leaner' version of Windows is because they have to support the myriad system configurations out there. Let's be real: 50% of a Vista installation is the farking drivers! They need to stop supporting things older than 5 years old and start telling people to either upgrade or download the drivers for their stuff online. Just include GENERIC drivers with their operating systems for everything from now on."



Perhaps the reason many of us refuse to upgrade to Microsoft "Features-in-search-of-an-application", er, Vista, is because we don't feel like running out and buying all new devices just to be able to run an OS that we don't need. (XP is running very well, thank you...)

[i_made_this]

Ah, just what we've waited for! Blu-ray, Bluetooth 2.1 and Windows Search 4.0. The former two are certainly useful for folks who use those properties. And Windows Search 4.0 is about as exciting as a sleeping pill. But if it's three items alone, they could have easily done them in a monthly patch update - and, moreover, they'd be listed as optional updates, with sole exception perhaps of 4.0. There must be something more to SP2 having to do with "critical updates" - as it stands, it appears Redmond is bloating up an already bloated operating system. MSFT would never acknowledge this, but perhaps it's time to buy some more hardware and upgrade system memory from 4GB to 8GB RAM?

[nutso101]

I wonder if service pack 2 will have legacy software and hardware support.

[anmath2]

So anyone who is currently running Vista SP1, will be given a free download for SP2, am i correct?