News19,135 Articles

December 4, 2008

What's new in Windows Vista SP2?

New Service Pack features explained

JR Raphael

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

Continued...
1 | 2 | NEXT >

Free whitepaper: Is social networking really bad for business?

<<newer story | back to index | older story>>

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.

What is this?

Subscribe to PC Advisor now and claim your FREE gift

Keep up to date by adding PC Advisor News to your iGoogle home page or Google Reader


Question of the day!

Does your smartphone replace your need for a laptop when on the move?

Question of the day!

Does your smartphone replace your need for a laptop when on the move?

% of PC Advisor readers agree with you

Yes
TBC
No
TBC

Which parts of the desktop PC/laptop experience can't you get on your smartphone?

119 characters remaining

Follow the conversation at @SmartphoneFocus

web browsing, search facilities, voip, email, word processing everything RT @Graham_D_C

Mainly email but getting better at spreadsheets etc, RT @IDGdan
Google

PC Advisor Software Store


Recent reviews

Reviews index


Latest reader comments

Latest reader comments


Top news

News index


Latest blog entries

Blogs index


 Our RSS feeds

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