Windows Vista SP2 set for April launch to manufacturers?

In case you missed it, last week TechARP said that Vista SP2 is scheduled for an April 2009 release to manufacturing -- that means not you... not yet anyway. We're guessing that it will hit a month later for general release if the Vista SP1 rollout was any indication. So who's TechARP? Oh just the same group of Malaysian kids that like to boast about how they broke the Vista SP1 and XP SP3 release schedules to the world. That makes their "confidential source" worth listening to. The source adds that Microsoft will deliver a SP2 release candidate as early as February so we'll know soon enough how accurate this rumor is.

[Via PC Advisor]

[Sam Zebian @ Dec 1st 2008 6:20AM]

Well Hopefully by then we'll know when 7 will be released, so I can upgrade accordingly. SP2 won't be a big deal for me, or probably most other Vista users, I think most people will be upgrading to 7 a few months after sp2. SP2 won't add much anyways... Can' wait for 7 though, the pre-beta is awesome!

[Dave Chappelle @ Dec 1st 2008 6:39AM]

in before 'maybe this is windows 7'... trust me it is bound to happen.

[Tom Robertson @ Dec 1st 2008 7:20AM]

How can you just assume that "SP2 won't add much anyways" when it hasn't even been released to manufactures yet?

[Godskitchen @ Dec 1st 2008 7:26AM]

How is 7 "Awesome" ?

I have been having a little play and it doesnt seem that much different to Vista.........

Am I missing something?

[Patriks7 @ Dec 1st 2008 7:33AM]

"Am I missing something?"
Well Windows 7 is Vista in disguise.. just a bit of tweaking and different name for people scared of Vista..

[Sam Zebian @ Dec 1st 2008 7:43AM]

7 is awesome because of it's better performance, speed and Ui changes. It's got the same core architecture as vista but optimized to use less resources and start up faster along with many other enhancements. It has better boot time and battery life on my laptop, has some nice ui changes like aerosnap and the new start menu, and overall it feels a lot snappier than vista.

[Ryan @ Dec 1st 2008 7:53AM]

Depending on the blog you read, 7 isn't a performance gain. There have been some people who have had the same if not worse performance than they had with Vista.

Also, seeing MS's history with OS releases, I personally won't be upgrading anytime soon. The Vista launch was bad, but so was the XP launch if you remember correctly...and the ME launch...and the 98 launch...do I need to keep going?

[MrGutts @ Dec 1st 2008 8:12AM]

Vista = Win98

Win7= Win98B

and that is about it..

[OneLove @ Dec 1st 2008 12:23PM]

I am ready for the windows (vista) SP7 release!

[Mark Anderson @ Dec 1st 2008 1:01PM]

Since we don't really know what's going to be in SP2 (hint to MS: the UAC four choice slider kthx!) then we'll have to wait and see.

As for anyone who compares performance - not footprint or kernel - between a pre-beta and a released product, well they really need to swallow the business end of a shotgun. I mean seriously, that's just stupid.

[Moorio - XBL: peacebyanymeans @ Dec 1st 2008 6:32AM]

Already? Well, that's nice, I suppose.

Better security and performance and such is always a good thing in my eyes.

[ZaxCG2 @ Dec 1st 2008 9:38AM]

Jup... and as long as Microsoft provides it free... I'm all for it!

[Dale @ Dec 1st 2008 6:38AM]

10-1 that the MS bashing begins in less than 10 posts

[Moorio - XBL: peacebyanymeans @ Dec 1st 2008 6:39AM]

Microsoft? More like Microhauft.

amirite?

[Moorio - XBL: peacebyanymeans @ Dec 1st 2008 2:50PM]

Jeez, people, I wasn't serious. Microhauft doesn't even make sense.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Dec 1st 2008 6:45AM]

I'm more interested a bout windows 7. I have it installed on my laptop with vista and there are some points of interest even though it's pre beta. Better battery life. Boot up is slightly faster on this laptop but only slight by around 3 Seconds and all the original drivers work but the new ati drivers didn't work. But there was one in the updates when I did a scan. All in all it works and the superbar is okay bit its too tall. Wi-Fi is better when you wake it up from sleep. All in all for a pre beta it could pass off as a working OS. We're talking Xp with vista UI and the amount of processes reduced and the desktop manager needing far less ram.. The only thing that scares me is the install size. It had alot removed but it was around 7-8 GB. I can see most people skipping to windows 7 instead of SP2. If microsoft want to do this properly they have to make it cheaper than vista. Can't wait for the finished product.

[Godfail @ Dec 1st 2008 11:28AM]

Windows 7 will not be cheaper than Vista.

[Maestro @ Dec 1st 2008 7:11AM]

SP2? What could be possibly left to fix?
(set sarcasm detectors to stun)

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Dec 1st 2008 7:17AM]

I don't know why but I lol'd hard at the last sentence

[ToniCipriani @ Dec 1st 2008 7:13AM]

I almost forgot Vista ever existed...

[Samboini @ Dec 1st 2008 7:30AM]

I can assure you I and many others find it very reliable and stable. The only problem I ever had was hardware related (faulty 8400GM), so to that degree I'm impressed.

[fikhl @ Dec 1st 2008 10:44AM]

...and also integrated 'Media Center' capability has silenced many haters including myself.

[Larry @ Dec 1st 2008 7:26AM]

Is this a bug fix or a replacement of underlying code, windows 7 testing? Maybe they could replace the code with XP code until 7 is released.

[Thomas Chan @ Dec 1st 2008 7:43AM]

You need to dig a little before calling them kids. These guys have been around for a long time. If they are still kids, they would have to be 8/9 when they started their site.

I'm not surprised if their source is credible. Most of their info have been on the dot. Like their leaks on Intel Core i7 CPU schedules and details.

[Crabby @ Dec 1st 2008 9:03AM]

Here's my concern - will devices that only have Vista x64 drivers function under Windows 7 x64 or do I need to go out AGAIN and buy stuff just for the experience?

[Glen @ Dec 1st 2008 5:49PM]

The standard line is... if the driver works with Vista 64bit then it will work with Win7 64bit. Microsoft has not changed the driver model from Vista's -- and that driver model change WAS required, as much pain as it put people through.

The current Vista SP2 beta's are stable... there are a few hiccups but nothing of real interest. Basically, Vista SP2 is like XP SP3... "a roll up of all previous patches with a few little improvements here and there"

There are no DRAMATIC improvements/changes - service packs are NOT about major changes, just ease of 'patching' IMHO.

UAC will be slightly better but it will be nothing like Win7's UAC! because this would require all of the Win7 code and thats just not going to happen.

[sk @ Dec 1st 2008 10:12AM]

How about WinXP SP4. Would make more sense since there are a few million more user than Vista.

[Ryan @ Dec 1st 2008 10:37AM]

Because XP is dead to MS. It does still work and on older machines, XP is a better OS than Vista, I'll admit. But if you have new hardware and you come to the realization that you need to replace some of your older software as well, Vista is a tremendous upgrade. There is an expense to upgrading, there always has been. People had to shell out money to upgrade to XP, and here we are again. When we have another OS launch (other that 7, because it is a tweaked Vista), there will be a mass outrage even larger than this one. I will even put money on it.

At the risk of being downranked, GET OVER IT!!!!! As hardware and software evolve, the requirements will get larger and larger. If you want progress, you have to change. Or just switch to Linux or Mac and quit flaming...your choice.

[John @ Dec 1st 2008 1:23PM]

actually Ryan, I downranked you for calling 7 'tweaked Vista'. And as for the cost of upgrading, while that's generally the rule, as 7 was demoed on a netbook I'm going to guess that most of it will get along quite fine with it.

[Godfail @ Dec 1st 2008 1:28PM]

How can you not consider Windows 7 a tweaked Vista? It's an updated Vista/2008 kernel with tweaks to the rest of the OS.

[roach @ Dec 1st 2008 10:48AM]

I have no complain with my Vista (3 machines), but I'll happily take a SP and all the goodies it brings.

[Godfail @ Dec 1st 2008 11:25AM]

Microsoft's Windows Service Pack road map is to make big changes with the second service pack. Much of what people are raving about in Windows 7 may very well show up in this service pack...

To those that think you'll see Windows 7 release in 2008, no chance. Think February 2010.

[Glen @ Dec 1st 2008 6:08PM]

@Godfail... you fail. No, no and no. You have it all wrong. There are no major changes with Vista SP2. Nothing from Win7 will be in Vista SP2. SO much core code has been changed with Win7, they wouldn't be able to "put it into a SP for Vista".

No one knows when Win7 will be available... but I'd put money on this time next year (on new PCs in stores)

[Thomas Chan @ Dec 1st 2008 11:40AM]

Hey there's more than just the est. dates. They have details of what's inside Vista SP2 -> ://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=605&pgno=0

[The Fuzz 53 @ Dec 1st 2008 11:46AM]

I'm pretty sure that SP1 just showed up on my Windows update like a month ago.

[WixosTrix @ Dec 1st 2008 4:43PM]

the service packs are just collection of updates from Microsoft. So even if it just showed up, as long as u keep your computer updated regularly you pretty much had the gist of it.

[Tex @ Dec 1st 2008 3:04PM]

I still have an HP laptop waiting for SP1 to hit.

[Michael Scrip @ Dec 1st 2008 3:48PM]

You're waiting for Vista SP1 ?

It's been out since March.... 9 months ago.

[Dale @ Dec 1st 2008 4:14PM]

lol.

[Mufasa The Arab Lion @ Dec 1st 2008 4:58PM]

So far Vista now isn't that bad, I still use an XP so I can still play Mount&Blade and Halo I for PC, but I use Vista when recording sermons at church and it seems to work the applications fine and it seems to start up from sleep quickly and boot up rather quickly, maybe its not the OS , maybe its the toshiba, but heck so far I still think Vista's days as a sucky operating system is basically over, just a lingering bad name, and XP taking the hall of fame.

-Mufasa Out-

[balls @ Dec 1st 2008 7:42PM]

Damn malaysians and their tasty satay, and roti canai.

[wiistaa @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:15PM]

vista is not good solution, sorry

[zahi @ Dec 4th 2008 12:08AM]

Will SP2 add support for USB 3.0 and Media Center TV pack ?


Here is a good article .
Windows Vista SP2