Vista SP1: This Week Is a Date

That's the conclusion based on Amazon listing availability of retail Vista SP1 as "March 19, 2008." As expected, the Vista SP1 versions reflect Microsoft's Vista price cuts.

[Update: On March 17, Amazon's Website had retail release listed as March 18. A Microsoft PR spokesperson confirmed the date, perhaps accidentally, during a phone call.]

Timing would be consistent with Microsoft's earlier statements about the software releasing in mid-March. While Vista SP1 released to manufacturing in early February, Microsoft delayed public release because of driver problems.

I'm perplexed by something. In a February statement, David Zipkin, a Windows Client senior product manager, explained several ways Microsoft would remedy driver compatibility problems. One of the most important: "Ensure that new PCs from PC manufacturers begin shipping with SP1 preinstalled as soon as possible."

My question: What's as soon as possible? Early this morning, I checked on build-to-order PCs from Dell, Gateway and HP, for which none was listed as having Windows Vista SP1. If these OEMs are shipping SP1, they're not saying. If my local CVS or RiteAid sold computers (these days they sell pretty much anything else), I would see if display models had SP1. Given the late hour, Best Buy and other electronic stores are closed.

Returning to Amazon's release date, I couldn't confirm it at Web sites for Best Buy, CDW or PC Connection. But Amazon has a good track for Windows release dates.

The unanswered question: What about SP1 release for existing customers? I checked, and it's not yet available (to me, anyway) on Windows Update or from the Microsoft Download Center. Release anytime on or before Wednesday is reasonable speculation. Reminder: SP1 is supposed to be available for manual download only. Release for automatic update download isn't scheduled for another month. For now, enterprises using WSUS won't have to deploy SP1 right away.

Off topic: On Saturday night, I was surprised to see title "Windows Vista for Dummies" on the shelf at my local Barnes & Noble bookstore. As I picked up the book, some passerby startled me by reaching over and tapping the cover. "There's an 'is' missing there," he quipped. The dummy was me, because I didn't at first get his meaning: Windows Vista is for dummies.

Related Posts:

• Vista's Ultimate Challenge, Microsoft Watch, March 4, 2008
• Microsoft Pulls Troubled Vista Update, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 19, 2008
• Pre-SP1 Updates Whack Windows Vista, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 15, 2008
• Vista SP1 Goes MSDN, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 13, 2008
• The Vista RTM Question, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 7, 2008
• What's Good About Vista SP1?, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 4, 2008
• Microsoft Sort of Releases Vista SP1, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 4, 2008
• What Went Wrong With Windows Vista, Microsoft Watch, Dec. 6, 2007
• Broken Windows, Microsoft Watch, Aug. 9, 2007
• It's Not Ultimate Enough, Microsoft Watch, July 2, 2007
• Vista's Discount No More, Microsoft Watch, June 28, 2007
• The Vista Contradiction, Microsoft Watch, June 4, 2007
• How Does Windows Vista Rate?, Microsoft Watch, May 20, 2007
• The Trouble with Windows Vista Capable, Microsoft Watch, April 4, 2007
• How Ultimate is This?, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 26, 2007
• Microsoft's Ultimate Disadvantage, Microsoft Watch, Jan. 28, 2007
• Windows Vista Family Discount Is No Ultimate Bargain, Microsoft Watch, Jan. 18, 2007
• Windows Ultimate Advantage, Microsoft Watch, Jan. 7, 2007