Vista SP1 RC refreshed (and Darwin Awards)

It's IT Blogwatch: in which a new build of Vista SP1 breaks cover. Not to mention the latest clutch of Darwin Awards...

Gregg Keizer has the goss:

In a quick turn-about, Microsoft Corp. made the newest tweak to Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) available to the public on Friday. Just two days earlier, the new version, dubbed Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh, had been handed out to a group of about 15,000 testers ... At the time, Microsoft said the refresh was "not available for public download." [But] it changed its mind, and posted instructions on its Web site for downloading and installing the new code using the Windows Update service. [more]

Brad Linder stands to attention:

Microsoft may not have released any more information regarding the actual changes in the latest version of Windows Vista SP1, but the company has widened the release pool to... everybody ... You can also download the service pack through Windows Update if you jump through a few hoops ... make sure you uninstall this update and install the final version of SP1 when it becomes available. [more]

Jonathan Schlaffer shuffles over:

If you have to have the latest and greatest updates installed on Vista then this will be good news for you ... The same multi-boot updating process is present in the new version as is an “installer cleanup service” which takes about an hour before the update actually begins installing ... SP1 is not expected to deliver any significant performance boost but is instead geared towards bug fixes and improving compatibility issues with hardware and software. [more]

Mary Jo notes:

On the Microsoft Downloads site, the company notes that “systems running on Windows Vista RTM typically require two or three updates before SP1 can be installed. These updates are permanent on your Windows Vista systems.” Two of the updates “service specific Windows components prior to the installation of the service pack and a third update which services the installation software built into Windows Vista.” [more]

Tim Roper worries:

Do with the knowledge what you will, but after reading this, I am a little hesitant to install this Service Pack just yet ... I am not in the mood to risk hosing my install this weekend.. [more]

Joe Wilcox channels Harry Calahan:

"You've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?" ... The broadened code availability is as much about testing Windows Update delivery as it is about making the service pack available to more testers ... signals that Microsoft is close to wrapping up Windows Vista RC1 testing ... [and] suggests Microsoft confidence about SP1 code readiness. [more]

Dave Robertson can't wait:

I am worried about Vista. I’ve got a new Vaio. I’ve got Vista Home Premium - and I’ve seen more blue screens in the space of 3 months than I’ve seen with XP, 20o0, 3.1 and DOS in the last 20 years. I do hope SP1 is going to fix things because as they stand - its just not progress. [more]

[Download the SP1 RC refresh, if you dare]

And finally...

• It's that time of year again
  

Buffer overflow:

• Christopher Harris: Program Yourself
• Geertjan: Convert a WSDL File into a RESTful Web Service
• Coding Horror: How Should We Teach Computer Science?
• Joe McKendrick: Goodbye, Geronimo? IBM says app server is alive and well
• Rational Survivability: Kid's Software & The Evolution of SaaS
• Erica Sadun: iPhone: Purple Apps
• Network Security Blog: I’m hoping they don’t find anything
• Feld Thoughts: Google Fights Back on Software Patents

Other Computerworld bloggers:

• Joyce Carpenter: Computing while driving
• Sharon Machlis: Why New York Times e-voting story fell short
• Eric Lai: How will Stephen Elop fare at Microsoft?
• Seth Weintraub: Macworld 2008 predictions
• Shark Tank: And on Monday, we'll try it all again
• Mark Hall: Shop online with friends
• Douglas Schweitzer: My TomTom got Jacked!
• Angela Gunn: Making an e-voting fuss when it counts

Richi Jennings is an independent analyst/adviser/consultant, specializing in blogging, email, spam, spam, spam, egg, sausage, and spam. A 22 year, cross-functional IT veteran, he is also an analyst at Ferris Research.

You too can pretend to be Richi's friend...

Previously in IT Blogwatch:

• Leech my wi-fi? No way! (and messy rack)
• OLPC reboots into Windows (and Ginger roadtrip)
• FCC to quiz Comcast on Bittorrent hoo-hah (and filmtypos)