Josh's Windows Weblog » Windows Vista SP1 - CNet Blogger Doesn't Get It

Windows Vista SP1 - CNet Blogger Doesn't Get It

Some people shouldn't be allowed to blog about things, Period.  Take Robert Vamosi of CNet for example, In a recent post he is telling people SP1 lacks "WOW" and you shouldn't be waiting for it before you considering adoption. This guy obviously hasn't covered Windows for very long.

Windows Service Packs have never been about new features or "WOW", they have been about enhancing reliability, stability, and performance all of which Windows Vista was and is in clear need of. Windows XP SP2 was an anomaly, a needed one, as the security landscape had changed dramatically after the launch of Windows  Vista and the added firewall and other changes were necessitated. However no one should ever hold up Windows XP SP2 as something to repeat, it was a one off that will not and should not be repeated again. This is something that even Microsoft has publicly vowed not to repeat.

Back to SP1, If you are considering adopting Windows Vista I would encourage any business that doesn't have a compelling and immediate business need to wait for Window Vista SP1. Service Packs 1, which just entered beta and is due out early next year if the current plan of record stays on track, isn't about the visual "wow". You won't see many new features or User Interface (UI) changes, but the added reliability, stability, and performance will make your Windows Vista experience much better.  These fixes will translate to fewer support calls, less frustration, and generally a better experience overall for you and your customers.

Posted Oct 04 2007, 08:19 AM by Josh Phillips
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Comments

Jaxim wrote re: Windows Vista SP1 - CNet Blogger Doesn't Get It
on 10-04-2007 7:41 AM

I think what c|net is driving at is that Vista in general hadn't Wow'ed many people since it came out. Part of the problem was Microsoft's own marketing campaign: "Experience the Wow".

I prefer Vista over XP, but I was not terribly wow'd by it. I'm a big Media Center enthusiast since 2004, and I was expecting Media Center to be a major improvement in Vista, but instead it didn't have many new features and some of the new things were downgrades. The reason being, of course, is that the folks working on Media Center had to rewrite the Media Center code in order to work with Vista's code. And that's how I feel much of the other UI elements within Vista. It's not very polished and it seems like it was made as a stepping stone for something really great. As another example, the Vista Photo Gallery is good, but it doesn't compare to the "WOW" factor of the "Media Browser/ Photo Triage" application that the Microsoft Research Group demoed back in 2003, which I thought was going to be part of Vista.

Basically that's why people were hoping/expecting that SP1 would not only help to polish reliability issues, but also usability issues make the UI something you would be truely be wow'd by.

William wrote re: Windows Vista SP1 - CNet Blogger Doesn't Get It
on 10-04-2007 11:17 AM

Jaxim - that photo thing was awesome, but I thought the video (on channel 9 i think) said that it wouldnt be. Not sure when it will be featured though!

I would say though that Cnet blogger has got it wrong. this is a SERVICE PACK. but you know, the thing is mIcrosoft released SP2 for XP (jim alchin said as much) so everyone would get teh seucirty upgrades. Apple would have just released a new OS. Once you'vedone that once, it's got to be expected that dodgy bloggers will carry on thnking it will be the same thing again.

nicknowsky wrote re: Windows Vista SP1 - CNet Blogger Doesn't Get It
on 10-04-2007 11:48 AM

Ya know what there is SO MUCH hub bub about SP1 its almost up in the air for ANYONE to say what they want about it, being release dates, features and what not. Now I have tried all 3 builds so far of SP1 and their is no WOW,but Josh is 100% right SP1 is about the WOW factor, and for C/Net I dunno what to think about them, never have either?? Oh well

nicknowsky wrote re: Windows Vista SP1 - CNet Blogger Doesn't Get It
on 10-04-2007 11:58 AM

excuse me I wanted to say it NOT about the WOW Factor, I forgot to slip the NOT in there

Thanks

Josh Phillips wrote re: Windows Vista SP1 - CNet Blogger Doesn't Get It
on 10-04-2007 12:09 PM

Thanks for the great comments guys...

Jeff wrote re: Windows Vista SP1 - CNet Blogger Doesn't Get It
on 10-04-2007 1:57 PM

The 'journalists' that cover Microsoft over at C|Net have really been in a foul mood lately. I've considered blogging about their anti-MS bias, but I'd hate to start a flame war with C|NET. They have WAY more bandwidth than us :P

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