Microsoft released the first Windows Vista Service Pack (SP1) software upgrade for testing last week, prior to its official launch in the first quarter of next year.

The release candidate (RC) version of SP1 is being offered to hundreds of millions of customers via the Microsoft download centre because the software giant wants to obtain the most extensive feedback possible.

The first service pack is key to galvanising take-up of Vista, according to analysts.
“SP1 is a moderately important technical update for the operating system,” said Gartner vice president Steve Kleynhans.

“But it is a critically important milestone because many organisations use the first service pack as a signal that the operating system has reached a certain level of maturity and is ready for them to start deploying.

“It will also help break the standoff between users and third-party technology vendors ­ users waiting for full support from vendors, vendors waiting for users to adopt,” he said.

SP1 has three main components ­ a bundle of fixes already available through the Windows Update service, some less critical patches, and minor tweaks to the way certain parts of the operating system work.

“It is important because after a year there are so many fixes, that it can take a long time to get a new Vista installation fully patched,” said Kleynhans.

Vista’s main attractions are its improved security and the collaboration function with SharePoint and Office 2007.

Nick Argent, IT manager at environmental attraction the Eden Project, said his organisation will be downloading the early SP1 version to run tests.

“Like many companies, we are reluctant to roll out a new operating system until the first service pack is available for bug fixes but we are moving to Vista for our laptops because of its enhanced security,” he said.

Tube Lines, the firm responsible for three London Underground lines, is working on application compatibility ahead of full migration to Vista next year.

“We have 70 sites across London and large-scale engineering projects,” said head of IT Adrian Davey.

“Knowing that staff can work on the same version of a document and any changes are incorporated to create a single source of truth is a big benefit,” he said.