With Vista SP2, Microsoft is back on track

From the other side of the world comes a report that Windows Vista Service Pack 2 will be released to manufacturing in April 2009, roughly a year after SP1. The Malaysian website TechARP has a pretty good track record with this sort of prediction, and my sources tell me that schedule sounds about right.

Meanwhile, here in the U.S.A., some people are inferring more Vista doom and gloom from this schedule. My buddy Dwight Silverman at the Houston Chronicle says "SP2 is being rushed out the door" to keep up Vista's momentum. Eweek's Channel Insider calls SP2 a "last-ditch attempt to drum up sales for [the] beleaguered [Vista] operating system." The Register says "Microsoft seems to be in a hurry with this release."

[Mr Fancy Pants]

If it makes the comp to use less resource then they are back on track because right now I'm just writing this and my laptop is utilizing 934MB of ram in I don't know what. Because I don't have anything else running but when I use my desktop with XP it only uses like 300-400MB...

[Bladestar]

mmm.... who knows... I was asking myself why XP it uses like "300-400MB" when my Window 3.1 used between 1-2 MB...

I am beginning to think that newer OS use more resources because they have more features which is why overtime Memory chips get larger and cheaper... strange ehh?

[xaviertooth]

@blade:

what features are u referring in Vista?

sidebar crap? improved security crap? aero look crap? different menu system crap?

microsoft just doesn't have the skills right now to compete in software business and is way behind the likes of Google! what they are doing is to recycle old craps from their windows, office and visual studio platforms!

[paul-p1988]

good point, the older ones use less, but thats because the hardware wasnt that high then.

Although, it only appears to be Windows that thinks everyone should have ridiculous PC specs to 'have the privilege' of running windows...funny how a version of Linux (Called DSL or Damn Small Linux) runs on a computer with 50mb of RAM and works insanely quick. I use Linux Ubuntu, and that only needs 256mb of RAM, and it works dam quick and uses hardly any of it...

maybe everyone should boycott Windows...

[DJ]

And Vista still utilized 1.2 GB of RAM. Hell, my old XP computer didn't even have more than 1GB of RAM, so it's a good thing i have 3GB at my disposal.

My real issue with Vista is that it lacks compatibility with almost all the software i run (Maxwell Studio crashes on startup, Vue crashes after rendering one or two frames, Lightwave crashes at random intervals), as well as some hardware. I added in another internal hard drive; Vista kept insisting though that I was installing a CD drive, and wouldn't let me use the damn thing. The BIOS read it just fine, but Vista seemed to have a little trouble there. Good thing I returned it.

I now have a copy of Windows XP 64-bit sitting on my table. Just need to save up for a 64GB SSD that i'm going to use as my C:/ drive, and another 6 GB of RAM. THEN i'll be flying.

The visual aspect of Vista is great; the functionality though isn't.

[xaviertooth]

all microsoft develop/manufacture/produce are garbage!

[paul-p1988]

seconded :)

LINUX FTW!! :D

[DJ]

Office is still great, and Surface has a lot of promise (though MS hasn't taken initiative to expose the public to it).

[SL1M DADDY]

I hear a ton about the unavailable network problem and wonder, when are MS going to admit to this issue and actually fix it?

[ThanatosDMC]

I hope they fix 64-bit Vista issue with unsigned drivers. I cant use my wifimax to connect to xlink kai.

Also, i hope that they allow us to freely control our wireless zero configuration. By letting the manufacturer's utility be accessible rather than letting vista control everything.

For the 32-bit vista people i hope they fix the restrictions on ram. Since most laptops now are able to go and have up to 8gigs of ram.

[Viper7]

Back on track with Windows 7 I presume,

[Shakkan]

Highly doubtful. Windows 7 is Vista Second Edition with a bit more bloat added. (that's up to now at least)

[AstroZombie1]

Microsft please don't rush SP2 given your track record of rushing things (do i really need give examples?) it will more than likely break Vista which will need to be fixed.

For the record in my personal opinion Vista with SP1 is a perfectly stable and good OS so don't rush SP2 and break it take your time and improve on SP1.

[DJ]

Otherwise i'll just stick with XP 64-bit (which i'll probably downgrade/upgrade to in about a month).

[zonetrooper5]

I actually like Vista 64bit alot more than XP tbh. Another few more months until SP2 comes out so it will be improved again, hell Vista with SP1 is very stable.

[kr9091]

I just bought a brand new Sony Vaio laptop 2 weeks ago and 3 days after I bought it i couldnt connect to my wireless network. and no it wasnt because I was out of range or anything because my ipod touch had an internet connection.

hell I was right next to my router and vista still would not even detect the network! so after a couple days of searching on the internet I had to go into my network connections and "repair" my wireless connection to get it to work. Even still, when I open my laptop up or turn it on i need to manually connect to my network. Vista's wireless management is HORRIBLE.

[ThanatosDMC]

Yeah, i agree. Hopefully they at least give us the option to be able to use the manufacturer's utilities other than vista's. I want to be able to use my internet as well as my wifimax.

[SL1M DADDY]

My PC won't even let me hook up to the web when I have the router pugged right into the PC but all other wireless devices and other wired devices work fine. The Router is brand new and so is the PC and it tells me I have an unknown network. My XP machine worked flawlessly before the HDD died and I decided to get a new PC. Wish I didn't and just went with the new HDD and a copy of XP off the Ebay. I'm still thinking about going back to XP, this Vista issue with my router is pissing me off.