News
News spotlights:
Business | Digital audio | Gadgets | Games | Green computing | Home entertainment | Internet & broadband | Laptops | Linux | Macs | PC Peripherals & components | PC security | PCs & laptops | Mobile phones | Digital photography & video | Software | Wi-Fi & networking
News by company:
AMD | Apple | BT | Dell | Google | HP | Intel | Microsoft | Nvidia | Sony
News by product:
Windows XP | Windows Vista | Windows 7 | Apple iPhone | BlackBerry
December 4, 2008
What's new in Windows Vista SP2?
New Service Pack features explained
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) is set to be released as a public beta today. Many will be asking "Should I upgrade to Vista SP2?".
However, it's a fairly significant upgrade and is not for everyone. Here's what you need to know before making the upgrade.
SP2 beta is, as the name suggests, a product still under development. Microsoft is recommending only "technology enthusiasts, developers, and IT pros" willing to test the software take on the upgrade.
General users are advised to wait until the final release, which is set for the first half of 2009. Some unofficial reports indicate it is being targeted for an April completion.
Windows Vista SP2 includes numerous changes to the Vista operating system. Here are some of the highlights of what it'll do for you if you upgrade to Vista SP2:
- Let you record data onto Blu-ray discs
- Add into your system Vista Feature Pack For Wireless, which provides support for the latest Bluetooth technology - Bluetooth v2.1 - as well as for the Windows Connect Now (WCN) Wi-Fi protocol
- Give you better Wi-Fi performance when you're exiting Vista's sleep mode
- Make your RSS feeds sidebar gadget work faster and better
- Give you the latest desktop search engine, Windows Search 4
- Cut down the resources it takes to run your various sidebar gadgets
- It'll give your OS an overall tune-up, too.
The Vista Service Pack 2 upgrade will also deliver some under-the-hood improvements, which will:
- Give your computer support for VIA Technologies' new 64-bit CPU
- Let your system support exFAT, which can handle larger files and can also use UTC timestamps so you can synchronise files across different time zones
- Boost your power management efficiency by as much as 10 percent
<<newer story | back to index | older story>>
Submit to:
Reddit
Subscribe to PC Advisor now and claim your FREE gift
Recent reviews
- LG Chocolate BL40 review
- Dell Mini 3i review
- Samsung N510 review
- Canon Selphy CP790 review
- Canon Selphy CP790 review
- Alienware OptX AW2210 review
- Microsoft Office 2010 Web Apps review
- Microsoft Office 2010 Web Apps review
- Microsoft Office 2010 Web Apps review
- HP Photosmart A646 review
Latest reader comments
- I have written a comprehensive solution to removing the iKee virus. I have tried it out on my...
- Nothing new here - why persist with these funny little blogs/diaries.
- Steve Ballmer alone is enough to put you off any Windows products.
- @Mike74 Are you a mac guy? lol
- instant messaging sucks and is so informal.
Top news
- Analysis: the two fatal flaws in Google Chrome OS
- 10 technologies we'll miss when they're gone
- 10 technology upgrades that went badly wrong
- How to choose the right version of Windows 7
- In pictures: the Motorola Droid
Latest blog entries
- PC Advisor's winter photo competition
- Why Google Chrome OS is bad for business
- 5 things to love about Office 2010 beta
- 9 things I hate about laptops
- Why I hate Microsoft Office 2010
Sponsored Content
-
Take the internet to new places with the Nokia N800
Communicate how you want to, where you want to with instant messaging, email and internet calling. View movies, browse the internet wirelessly and watch TV on the high-resolution screen and listen through high-quality stereo speakers with headphone jack.
Buy now
Latest technology news:
Sponsored links
-
Visit the NGA Speed Conference
There's only one way to discuss next-generation internet access at high speed Visit the NGA Speed Conference for free video talks on the future of broadband and business. -
Get hands on with the BlackBerry Storm2, and win a BlackBerry smartphone!
Visit PC Advisor's BlackBerry Advisor to use our unique virtual Storm2 smartphone, and for your chance to win a BlackBerry Curve 8520. -
Custom built PCs
Visit our website to see our full range of custom-built PCs. Customise any specification and have the order dispatched the next working day. A massive range of PCs - from £250 to £1,000-plus - and a full list of low-cost components are available.
About PC Advisor | Privacy policy | Media information | Site map | Contact | About IDG
All contents ©IDG 2009 | webmaster@pcadvisor.co.uk
Comments received
Guy McNeill said on Thursday, 04 December 2008
No, this is not the "first Windows Service Pack to work for both the client (Vista) and server (Windows 2008) editions of the operating system in a single update" as mentioned in SP1 Review on page 2!
REMEMBER WINDOWS 2000?!!! Pro and Server editions shared ALL of the SAME Service Packs! Author, please do more research!
tricky said on Thursday, 04 December 2008
Think I'll give it a couple of months after release before installing.
Here's another one: said on Thursday, 04 December 2008
Windows Server 2003 x64 and XP x64. They have the same Service Packs.
andy said on Friday, 05 December 2008
are those features being gradually added anyway? the Windows Search 4 is already here
Tris said on Friday, 05 December 2008
"Like most Microsoft Service Packs, the SP2 upgrade won't work on your system if you haven't already installed SP1."
Errm, every service pack released by Microsoft has had all the fixes from all prior service packs rolled in.
e.g sp3 for xp can be installed on xp gold. no incremental patching needed.
I cant see this one being different.
Catweazle said on Friday, 05 December 2008
Dear oh dear, with the debatable exception of 64 bit VIA support, what a list of dreary, marginal, grasping-at-straws benefits of Vista SP2. Does the package say what is the decrease in resources it will consume? And how much faster overall it will be? No? I wonder why. And why call SP2 an upgrade? It isn't. It's a patch. If you want to upgrade Vista, then upgrade to XP. A far more sensible choice.
Matt said on Friday, 05 December 2008
Hmm i think i might just leave it say a week? just incase any flaws pop up out of no where?
DKS21 said on Sunday, 07 December 2008
There is one flaw.... its Vista. !
richie said on Monday, 08 December 2008
If you don't use Vista then don't bother commenting ,no one wants to hear it.
As for us that do then I will probably wait for the RC release for SP2. Betas are always risky and I can't be bothered restoring my PC if it goes wrong!
Skidz said on Monday, 08 December 2008
Richie,
Make a backup with Acronis true Image beforehand.
Youll be alright.
Poit said on Monday, 08 December 2008
It's a Vista news item, so in come the fools who can't accept that there's an awful lot of peopl out here who have systems that can run Vista very well, and find XP to be old fashioned and clunky.
Richie said on Monday, 08 December 2008
Anyone tried it yet?
Skidz said on Monday, 08 December 2008
Poit,
i could run Vista fast many times over with my super Pc, but point is, no matter how many updates they throw at it, its never going to be any good. Thats why Windows 7 is being rushed out, not that that looks promising either.
Jurgen said on Monday, 08 December 2008
Vista is a flop and by all account Windows 7 is not much of an improvement either! So is this two of 'three strikes and your out' for Microsoft?
Jamie said on Monday, 29 December 2008
So far so good, I did the beta update yesterday and everything seems fine. Quad core 64 bit Vista Ultimate. I did notice sidebar came in faster upon reboot.