Windows 7 And You: Wait For The Service Pack?

26.10.2009
For many, the official release of a new operating system----is just the starting of a clock. They will not buy the new OS until Service Pack 1 is released.

Why? Microsoft has a reputation for releasing buggy software. While has been widely tested by real customers, history presents the likelihood that one or more major "gotcha's" will appear.

With previous operating systems, these were usually fixed in a service pack that followed the release of the new OS. Windows Vista, for example, is currently on (SP2), while is on .

In the case of Windows 7, Microsoft has said the first service pack is likely to be issued about 12 months after introduction, meaning a year from now, in October 2010.

If you are happy with Windows XP and leery of Windows 7, maybe this timing makes sense. Or maybe you'll regardless.

Either way, it is important to realize that Windows service packs are not what they used to be. There was a time when service packs were the primary vehicle for delivering fixes for Microsoft operating systems.