News - Windows 7 SP1 due on February 22

[HEXUS]

First Service Pack is released to manufacturing before public availability later this month.

Read more.

[aidanjt]

Sure took 'em long enough.

[neonplanet40]

It really did :/

And considering its just a pack of already released patches their laziness and slowness astounds me

What can I say, im anti microsoft this month after they crippled vail

[aidanjt]

I wonder if they'll allow slipstreaming this time around... Probably not. :\

[neonplanet40]

Ive found the best thing when it comes to Microsoft is to expect nothing. That way you won't be dissappointed.

[Percy1983]

if it isn't broke why fix it, if it hasn't needed a service pack what is the problem?

[aidanjt]

It is broke, that's why SP1 is a great big ball of patches.

[OilSheikh]

Have to make sure my pirated WIN7 PRO works with this

[kasavien]

But surely if you've downloaded all the patches previously it isn't broken...

[TheAnimus]

some companies and techies have this idea that they won't move to a platform until its had a service pack.

a little bit of smoke and mirrors might help them see things differently.

[Kevsta]

You also fail to understand that Service Packs are more than all the updates and security patches rolled into one.

The Service Packs under go additional regression testing to make sure that there are no untoward potentials. These is one of the main reasons a lot of companies ignore all but the most critical updates and wait for service packs. Because there is more certainty that the possibility of compatibility issue is reduced.

[Percy1983]

Fully legit here so no problems, nice to know if I ever need to re-install service packs can get you a good way there quickly.

[toolsong]

SP1 won't install on my Win7 PC because I've previously used DriverCleaner.NET

[spoon_]

1 SP almost done, another 2 to go. Wicked.

When W8 comes out?

[TheAnimus]

1 SP almost done, another 2 to go. Wicked.

I know its nice actually getting patches for free rather than been forced to upgrade to fix gaping security holes. A friend of mine who was running tiger had a 'nasty program' on it (we all know viruses don't exist on macs, jobs blesses each one with holy water before they leave the sweat shop). Because she is running Tiger no updates.... wtf!? Admitedly it was probably her fault for getting a questionable version of photoshop, but still, it would be nice to know its a supported platform still.

When W8 comes out?

last I had heard they were aiming for general RTM late this year with retail sales for 2012 sometime.

It might well slip if they are having to move resources to unify the ARM and x64 build interfaces. I wouldn't be surprised if we see the windows live team re-jigging their apps to make them more touch friendly (not remotely hard they use WPF).

I've also heard roumers that they are doing some cunning stuff with wow (Windows on windows, not some game for sad-o wizarding types), but alas even if they port the excellent (and free) photo gallary program I doubt there will be a pentax codec any time soon that will run on ARM natively.

So it kinda depends how much they want to make a splash in the ARM world, vs getting in there quickly.