What Windows' Service Pack Two-For Is Good For
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News Analysis. Maybe newer Windows managers know what they're doing. A big change, and good one, starts next week. |
I'm like the last person reporting that Microsoft will make Windows Vista Service Pack 2 available to more testers on Oct. 29. Sorry, I was distracted writing about MacBook pricing over at Apple Watch. I also got bogged down finalizing travel plans for Microsoft's Professional Developer Conference.
Mike Nash, corporate vice president of Windows product management, blogged about SP2 this afternoon. The important paragraph:
Because we've adopted a single serviceability model, these improvements are integrated into a single service pack covering both Windows Vista (client) and Windows Server 2008 (server) versions. This should also minimize deployment and testing complexity for our customers.
Say, what, Mike? Service packs are a management bane. Could Microsoft ease service pack deployment pains? Well, it's good to see some benefit coming from all that shared code between Windows desktop and client. The single service pack packs benefits for Microsoft and customers:
- Microsoft gives enterprises another reason to deploy Vista alongside Windows Server 2008. Testing could start now for migrations along with SP2's availability.
- Conceptually—and much depends on Microsoft execution—testing and deployment would be easier for both platforms using WSUS (Windows Server Update Services).
- Some enterprises will more quickly deploy SP2, rather than block the update as has been customary with service packs.
There's some opportunity for a little perception-busting marketing, too. One of the great Windows contradictions is how much IT organizations and product reviewers love Windows Server 2008 but loathe Windows Vista. I often wondered why, seeing as the two operating systems share so much—emphasis on much—code in common. Service Pack 2 is an opportunity to highlight the operating system's sameness. If the server is desirable to the IT organization, shouldn't the desktop be, too?
I should pause and give Microsoft a big kudos for bringing the service packs in line, although it's more a technicality. Is it my imagination or didn't Windows Server 2008 ship as SP1? Mike is formalizing something Microsoft already had done. Still, it's another sign of the changing times—that the managers responsible for Windows Vista and 7 are doing more managing than their Windows Longhorn predecessors.
But I've got to poke about the so-called "emerging standards" Mike said will come with SP2. I'll take them one by one:
- Windows Search 4.0: Say what, Mike? There's nothing emerging or standard about proprietary Microsoft search technology. Be sure to explain to the Justice Department about your search standard when Google files its next complaint about Windows search.
- Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack. OK, Microsoft released this thingy for Vista about six months ago. The next point release for Bluetooth hardly is an emerging standard. Bluetooth is an established standard. What's emerging is Vista's catch-up support. Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR released in August 2007. I'll concede that more devices should support the standard.
- Native Blu-ray recording. I'll give Mike a high-five for this one. Blu-ray support comes through third parties, and it's a standard that's emerging.
- Windows Connect Now. OK, I'll stop chuckling. Connect Now isn't emerging, and it's no standard. Microsoft introduced this technology for Windows XP, and it went nowhere. Too bad, because it's promising. Wait, how is it there's no Windows Connect Now in Vista?
- UTC timestamps support for exFAT. Well, FAT64 isn't a standard, either; exFAT is a proprietary Microsoft file system. That said, "correct file synchronization across time zones" is good, but why wasn't it there already?
Mike's list is marketing bad that is IT management good. Nobody wants a bunch of new features in a service pack. "Windows Vista SP2 Beta contains previously released fixes focused on addressing specific reliability, performance, and compatibility issues," he writes.
What does any of this mean for Windows 7, which gets its developer conference debut next week? It's coming, baby—and maybe sooner than many people expect. How soon? PDC will answer that question.
[Please send your tips or rumors to watchtips at live.com].
Comments (9)
"But I've got to poke about the so-called "emerging standards" Mike said will come with SP2."
He didn't say "industry standards", Joe. And in the Windows world, Search 4 for example would be both emerging and increasingly standard. If you're going to take issue with otherwise trivial comments, it's best to read them carefully first.
Posted by Paul | October 24, 2008 10:36 PM
It's years since the tech world has introduced a broad standard for customer adoption, it's all about either reference standards or standards in the sense of battle flags.
Posted by Mike | October 25, 2008 12:23 AM
"If the server is desirable to the IT organization, shouldn't the desktop be, too?"
I think the best example showcasing differences between what's good for servers and what's good for desktops can be answered with one example - Linux.
Posted by whatever | October 25, 2008 5:03 AM
@Whatever
Completely agree. I believe others are now coming to that conclusion. Recently we've had Russian schools moving over to Linux. An EU government making the move. Some great strides in developing countries with Linux and donated PC's.
In addition we now have Linux being offered pre-installed on "over the counter" PC's and a greater awareness of open source thanks to Stephen Fry's video.
Weve got an increase in LUG in the UK. Ive been speaking with 4 different groups whos membership has more than tripled in the last month.
Theres another Linux based console to be released to developers shortly and a commercial release next year.
All "little victories" but how much good publicity can MS claim over the past few months? I cant think of anything at the moment. It seems that MS is suffering a kind of reverse midas touch at the moment, everything it touches turns to excrement.
"Computers are like air-conditioning systems, open Windows and they dont work properly"
www.distrowatch.com - For YOUR Linux flavour.
Posted by Goblin | October 25, 2008 8:05 AM
@Paul, when you say:
"He didn't say "industry standards", Joe. And in the Windows world, Search 4 for example would be both emerging and increasingly standard."
You imply there is at least another Windows specific search standard. Thus if we limit ourselves to Windows "Standards" then the comment made by Mike implies there is another Blu-ray standard in Windows, another Windows connect standard, another Bluetooth standard (would explain my problems with my cellphone) and another UTC timestamp standard. But there aren't any so Joe's interpretation is correct and we once again see Microsoft believe they are the center of the standard's universe (at least in regards to PCs). Using Industry and Windows as synonyms.
Posted by Gerardo Tasistro | October 25, 2008 11:31 AM
I am sure the author of the page will correct his error (dont worry Ive taken a screen dump) but over on the impartial and completely factually correct Windows-now.com website, we have a groundbreaking statement from an up and coming MS Shill.
It says "I couldn’t resist the opportunity to be one of the first to get a guided tour the hotly-anticipated followup to Widows Vista."
So its Widows Vista is it? "a woman who has lost her husband by death and has not remarried." meaning that Vista has lost all its supporters and left alone on the shelf? MS, I like the new name and think its very fitting (and its nice to see a little MS honesty).
If Windows 7 is going to be simply 7, then by changing Windows Vista to "Widows Vista" youre separating yourself from a product that is globally laughed at and reviled. Well done!
Its obviously a typo, albeit an ironic one, but it made me chuckle. I wonder who the first copy and paste MS shill will be to try and "fudge" the issue of this comment?
I have to thank Andre for that link as I found it on his blog "favorites" section. I strongly advise you to visit his blog, he is in desperate need of comments, and the only ones who do, only seem to want answers to Vista problems. I am sure he will be grateful of a topical comment instead. Cheers!
Heres the link:
http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/robert/pdc-2008-here-I-come-and-a-caption-contest.aspx
Posted by Goblin | October 25, 2008 2:19 PM
Technical Question: among the enhancements being provided, are they going to do anything to fix up the sharing of printers between Vista and XP in a home (non-AD) configuration?
It's bizarre-- I can see and write to shared folders on the XP box just fine, and the printer is shown as an item within the XP box. But when Vista tries to "contact" the printer, it throws an error. HP printer, and the drivers ARE loaded on the vista box using the HP driver software-- installed for "remote access", without actually plugging it in.
Why on earth would Microsoft disable access to a printer, when it's allowing access to the filesystem? I even tried duplicating UserIDs between both boxes. Firewall is open on ALL ports, UDP and TCP, between the two boxes. Vista is "Home Basic", which certainly ought to be able to use a printer on another home box (IMO, even the cheapest Vista should be as capable as Windows 3.1 from 1996.)
Thanks in advance. This isn't a question about how to make it work now, this is a question about whether SP2 does anything about the configuration difficulty.
Posted by rickst29 | October 25, 2008 2:46 PM
Gerardo wrote "if we limit ourselves to Windows "Standards" then the comment made by Mike implies there is another Blu-ray standard in Windows, another Windows connect standard, another Bluetooth standard (would explain my problems with my cellphone) and another UTC timestamp standard."
You confuse classes and specific instances. There are other hi-density disc writing standards (eg HD DVD), other wireless standards, and so on.
Posted by Mike | October 25, 2008 9:44 PM
"Microsoft: We’re Sorry, but We’ll Make it Up to YouOctober 28, 2008 by Dave in The Pit Blog
When Steve Sinofsky took the stage on Tuesday at the Microsoft Professional Developer Conference, the senior vice president was willing to confess some past sins with Vista."
Gee, Mr. S. thanks for the cheesy Mia Culpa, but as a Vista Ultimate user, where's a refund of the extra money I paid for the "extras" that never came?
Oh, I guess that money went for the 300 million dollar advertising flop you abandoned after a few days.
Oh, and Mr. S., how about making copy and paste faster, or have you already pulled your crew off Vista entirely and have retreated up to the "Cloud" where we mere mortals cannot reach you?
Why does Hibernate in Vista take longer than a cold boot does in XP? Has anybody noticed that, or are you too busy with creating a useless new GUI in Windows 7?
Well, I could go on and on about how Microsoft has done another "number" on us computer users, but I see you are glancing at your watch. You probably have to run off and check your jet and see it it's fueled up for the return trip to Redmond. Have a nice flight...
Posted by mgo | October 30, 2008 6:54 PM