Offer 500 hotfixes and various improvements now available
It has been a long time coming but it's now here - officially. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is available for all to download via Windows Update or as a standalone package from Microsoft's download centre.
Last month, Vista SP1 unexpectedly became available to 64-bit users and technical users were also able to get their hands on the eagerly-awaited update from MSDN and TechNet.
Today, users of both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista can obtain SP1 and take advantage of key reliability and performance issues.
Microsoft states: "Windows Vista SP1 is an update to Windows Vista that, along with improvements delivered via these other channels, addresses feedback from our customers and partners. By providing these fixes integrated into a single service pack which will be thoroughly tested by Microsoft and by industry partners and customers during the beta cycle, Microsoft provides a single high quality update that minimises deployment and testing complexity for customers."
The standalone download weighs in at approximately 450MB for the 32-bit version and 750MB for the 64-bit version. Opt to upgrade via Windows Update however and your download could be as little as 65MB - depending on which updates have already been deployed to your system.
Unfortunately for users from other regions, SP1 is only available to users of English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish versions of Vista. Other languages are expected to see a SP1 release shortly, but no firm date has yet been confirmed.
Microsoft has high hopes for SP1 and its release could prove to be a critical milestone, particularly among businesses who tend to wait until a service pack is available before opting for widespread deployment of a new OS.
SP1 might not boast a host of new features for the home consumer, but bug fixes, reliability and security are paramount to business users and SP1 could be the key ingredient to lure businesses which haven't yet made the switch.
Have you installed SP1 or are you part of a company now thinking of making the upgrade to Vista? Share your thoughts in the HEXUS forums.
Useful Links
Download 32-bit Service Pack 1
Download 64-bit Service Pack 1
Microsoft.com: Notable changes in Windows Vista Service Pack 1
