Vista SP1 coming sooner for some
Often, when Microsoft finishes the code for a new product, it is available almost immediately. That's why it was a bit of a surprise when Microsoft said last week that it had finished Windows Vista Service Pack 1, but that customers would have to wait until March to get it.
On Monday, Microsoft reversed course and said it would make the code available to volume license customers on Friday, with Technet and MSDN developer program members having access to the software later this month. The masses will still have to wait until next month, Microsoft said.
"For general availability, we are still planning to release in mid-March time frame, as we want to ensure the general public has the smoothest experience possible," Microsoft said in a statement.
The key reason for the hold-up is that Microsoft is still working out a significant issue where the drivers for certain hardware devices don't work after installing the service pack.
"This is an issue with the way the device drivers were re-installed during the SP1 update process, not with the drivers themselves--these drivers worked on Windows Vista RTM and they work on Windows Vista SP1," Microsoft VP Mike Nash said in a blog posting. "For new PCs with Windows Vista SP1 pre-installed, this is not an issue. We are working with the manufacturers of these devices to get the drivers and their install programs updated, and also working on other solutions we can use to ensure a smooth customer experience when updating to SP1 over Windows Update."
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. 
Microsoft's release strategy allowed OEMs to get SP1 right away.
knowing that there is a significant bug in it. If I were to release
something as a business, touting it was finished, yet knowing
that I had a major flaw in it, I would be out of business or
harshly criticized on all levels. Something is not finished until all
of the known bugs are fixed - period. This is exactly why
software vendors get bad reputations. Unfortunately, it is
spreading far beyond Microsoft these days. These companies
have too many resources to not test and work out these bugs.
Small vendors cannot always afford that ability, but companies
the size of Microsoft have NO excuse for such a major bug.
Not Vista SP1!!
The driver bugs show themselves when you upgrade to SP1. MSFT is not releasing SP1 until the drivers are ready, because they don't want their customers to go through driver hell like they did when Vista launched. They've learned from the Vista launch. This is a *good thing*.
Jeez. MSFT can't catch a break these days.
Public retail packages require a lot more driver testing from those third party companies. The OS can be complete and ready, but until those third party companies give them drivers to test with, they are somewhat constrained. Then there's the packaging, design, product delivery channels, etc.
A delay between RTM and retail release is pretty commonplace.
Just think! At this rate, Vista might *just* be useable by 2112!
:-)
- MS = more dangerous than Al Qaida
- by bbneo2 February 12, 2008 9:09 AM PST
- Vista SP1 coming sooner for some...
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(15 Comments)better them than me.