Vista SP1 'lacks wow factor', says Microsoft

If you've been waiting for Windows Vista SP1 to come out before you make the leap to the new operating system, don't, says Microsoft.

Microsoft's Pete McKiernan, a senior product manager for Windows, told silicon.com sister site CNET News.com one of the purposes of a service pack is to include all the patches that have been released in one package. Windows Vista SP1 will have that but little else for the home user, he said.

Unlike the buzz surrounding Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista SP1 won't include a new version of Internet Explorer, and won't include any new features that are considered must-haves. Most of the enhancements within SP1 are under the hood and for enterprise customers. In short, it lacks 'wow'.

Currently, Microsoft is beta-testing SP1 on about 12,000 machines worldwide. As the beta continues, more users will be invited but the numbers will not match the estimated five million that tried the operating system prior to RTM (release to manufacturing) last summer.

McKiernan described two features expected to be within SP1, neither is likely to excite consumers already on the fence about Windows Vista. One is an improvement to the BitLocker drive encryption system, available only in the Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Windows Vista. Under SP1, BitLocker will be able to encrypt multiple drive volumes; all drive volumes, that is, except for USB drives.

A second feature touted by Microsoft is support for emerging hardware and standards. SP1 will support Extensible Firmware Interface, Intel standard for the interface between software, the operating system and firmware, and Extended File Allocation Table, a new Microsoft file system that may eliminate the need for defragmentation in the future.

McKiernan categorised other expected changes within Windows Vista SP1 as security enhancements, reliability enhancements and performance enhancements.

Robert Vamosi writes for CNET News.com