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April 5th, 2008

Service Pack 1 for Vista just released

Well, after quite a long wait, it has arrived. SP1 for Microsoft Vista is now available to the public as of March 18th, 2008 by direct download. It will be available thru Microsoft Windows Updates very soon, if it isn`t already there.

 

As with any service pack release, SP1 doesn't change too much about Vista itself. What it is intended to bring to the table is additional stability and bug fixes. That being said, there are some enhancements from the original Vista:

 

  • Improved performance while copying and/or moving files (we've seen about a 20% improvement)
  • Improved file compression and decompression performance (we've seen a 40% improvement)
  • Less overhead with local network communication with servers
  • Improved power management, which we have seen an impressive change in power consumption, and speeds of entering and coming out of sleep and hibernation modes
  • Reduced USB and Bluetooth device crashes or timeouts
  • Changes in the authentication of Remote Desktop connections, which requires a few less steps when connecting to systems that you frequently use.
  • Check out Microsoft's TechNet Center summary of Notable Changes with Vista SP1 .

 

We have been testing SP1 for about a month now, and have found that it is much more stable when it comes to power management, file management, and working with external Bluetooth and USB devices. Overall, it does appear to be more stable than without SP1 installed. The upgrade process to SP1 takes just under 2 hours, and is pretty automated and straightforward.

 

How do we feel about this? We are ready to move forward with Vista!

At this point, we can now recommend that people purchasing new PC's have them pre-installed with Vista Business Edition (instead of Windows XP Professional) now that SP1 has been released. We do feel that the latest patches and the SP release came with enough improvements to justify the switch from XP Professional when purchasing new systems.

 

As far as running out and upgrading your current system(s) from Windows XP to Vista, that is another story. It is debatable that the upgrade process, along with the additional RAM and such that are required to sustain Vista will be worthwhile to you. XP was a strong product from Microsoft, and has been a stable option over the years. With your existing hardware, Vista will most likely not perform as well as a XP, not without some significant hardware upgrades.

 

That being said, we are no longer taking the stance that you should avoid upgrading to Vista now that the service pack has been released. If you would like to upgrade your systems, and are willing to make the additional hardware investments, you have our blessings to move forward down that path.

 

The main reason for this shift at this point is due to the fact that Microsoft's support of Windows XP will begin to fade now that a major service pack release of Vista has come about. Within 18 months to 2 years, support and patches for XP will stop, and Vista will be the focus. In order to get a strong 5-7 years out of any computer you purchase today, Vista is now the choice.

 

Plus, most builders of software have made the adjustment of their products to support Vista now, and those that haven't, will be here shortly. This is a key step in Vista being accepted.

 

Again, regardless of the system, Microsoft Vista needs to have a minimum of 2 GB of RAM (that's right, 2 Gigabytes) to run smoothly. (more if you plan on using the new Teleportation feature, an add-on included with SP1.....April Fools!!)

 

As far as new PC choices, on the desktop line, we strongly recommend the DELL Optiplex 755 series. As for laptops, the DELL Latitude D630 is a very strong choice. Both will give you what we feel is the best price / performance package, and with a 3 year warranty will maximize your investment in both the hardware and Vista.

 

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