• On TechRepublic: Windows 7: Slower to boot than Vista?
February 19, 2009 12:26 PM PST

Testers get near-final Vista SP2

by Ina Fried

Although most of the attention these days is focused on where things are with Windows 7, Microsoft is getting closer to releasing the next update for Windows Vista.

On Wednesday, Microsoft offered some technical testers a near-final "release candidate" version of the Windows Vista Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2. The company did not say when that version might be made publicly available.

"We continuously engage with our partners and testers on the development of service packs and we will track customer and partner feedback from the beta program before setting a final date for distribution," Microsoft said in a statement. "We will have more to share on Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 soon and are targeting final delivery in (the second quarter of) 2009."

The release of the updated SP2 test version was noted earlier on Thursday by Ars Technica. Microsoft has been working toward the release candidate version for some time now, after issuing a public beta of the update in December.

Meanwhile, Windows 7 is also moving toward the release candidate stage, with some sites noting that recent builds also contain the release candidate nomenclature, although Microsoft often labels its builds based on the version it is working toward.

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. E-mail Ina.
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by nopinktoday February 19, 2009 2:13 PM PST
In before Vista hate comments.
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by Sausagebiscuit February 19, 2009 2:22 PM PST
I hate vista.... oh wait, why am I here again?

nopinktoday: Do you hate Vista? What if Vista hates you? What if you hated Vista and it told its mom on you? OOOOOOOOOO tsk tsk.

For real: I doubt anything will change with SP2, any beta testers that can chime in on any improvements?

Also: LOL @ slickuser below. Nice comment. :D
by Mark_Anderson February 19, 2009 2:41 PM PST
LOL nopinktoday!

It's true isn't it? We'll get the usual quota of semi-literate window lickers crawling out to speak their brain. Of course, one wonders why they hang around MS orientated blogs rather than Linux ones.

...

Probably because since no-one cares about Linux they wouldn't have an audience.
by slickuser February 19, 2009 2:15 PM PST
Windows 7 disguised as Vista SP2!!!
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by kdrobb2k February 19, 2009 4:36 PM PST
Vista SP2 disguised as Win7. Update to Vista SP2 and wait for Win7 SP1. Keeping XP Pro SP3 in the loop. And so it goes, on and on.
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by Nataku4ca February 19, 2009 6:59 PM PST
i just hope this sp2 will do the same thing with vista like the sp2 for xp did for it, at least before sp2 came out for xp i stuck with 2k, still remember back then how horrible things were

just lucky the net wasn't mature back then and less flaming goes on
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by tuneslover February 19, 2009 7:44 PM PST
No needed. I'm looking forward to Windows 7 release.
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by clamburgler February 21, 2009 5:47 PM PST
I guess I'm one of the few that never had any problems with Vista. Don't see what all the fuss has been about.
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About Beyond Binary

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.


Beyond Binary is a look at how technology is changing our lives and the people behind all that life-changing stuff, with an extra emphasis on that which emanates from Redmond, Wash.

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