Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate Now Available for Public Download

[Jason Dunn]

http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2008/01/first-windows-v.html

"Reversing its initial decision to keep the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 release candidate restricted to private testers, Microsoft has made the near-complete upgrade available for download to the general public. Although still not a final version of Vista SP1, the latest release is said to be on track with the estimated first quarter release date for the first service pack update for Windows Vista. This is the first significant enhancement to Microsoft's latest desktop operating system, which was released in January of 2007, meaning that Vista's early adopters have had to wait almost a year for a refresh. Those holding on for the final release of SP1 will have to wait even longer. ZDNet Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley says that her sources put the final release date sometime in February."

Feel like taking Vista SP1 RC out for a spin? Now you can - previously only available to a closed group of beta testers, SP1 is now available for general download. As always, make sure you have a solid system backup before installing something as serious as a service pack.

[Jason Dunn]

http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2008/01/first-windows-v.html

"Reversing its initial decision to keep the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 release candidate restricted to private testers, Microsoft has made the near-complete upgrade available for download to the general public. Although still not a final version of Vista SP1, the latest release is said to be on track with the estimated first quarter release date for the first service pack update for Windows Vista. This is the first significant enhancement to Microsoft's latest desktop operating system, which was released in January of 2007, meaning that Vista's early adopters have had to wait almost a year for a refresh. Those holding on for the final release of SP1 will have to wait even longer. ZDNet Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley says that her sources put the final release date sometime in February."

Feel like taking Vista SP1 RC out for a spin? Now you can - previously only available to a closed group of beta testers, SP1 is now available for general download. As always, make sure you have a solid system backup before installing something as serious as a service pack.

[Filip Norrgard]

That is quite an old post that you linked to. Check this one out instead: Microsoft releases another Vista SP1 refresh to 15,000 testers

I "upgraded" yesterday to Service Pack 1 Beta Refresh which was released this year. The older SP1 Beta didn't have any noticeable differences but this Refresh seems to have improved Sleep/Wake times (but it's too early for me to say).

Interestingly, the major bottleneck in my Vista installation seems to be the ATI Mobility Radeon X700 driver that is from August in 2006! Vista has been complaining for some time that there are problems with that driver. However, I can't find any newer from the notebook manufacturer, Acer, and ATI -- sorry AMD -- don't have any generic MR X700 drivers available on their site anymore.
Guess that I'm SOL with that driver, then.