Do you remember the article which we posted earlier containing a list of several BUGs in Windows Vista which were not fixed in SP1? If not, then you can take a look at here:

SP1 Failed to Fix Several Windows Vista Bugs, Do We Need SP2?

We put a question to everyone do we need SP2 for Vista? Then after a few months, Microsoft put a separate KB article for Windows Vista SP2:

Is Windows Vista SP2 Under Development?

So it made it clear that they have really started working on SP2 for Vista and now the good news is the first Beta build of Vista SP2 has been released to a very closed group of testers.

Its under testing and will be released to public in first half of 2009 most probably before Windows 7.

There is also a leaked script file flying around lots of tech blogs and sites which can be used to download this SP2 beta build via Automatic Updates but its not the latest build of SP2 beta. Actually its an older build which was released for testing and the beta build which has been released to testers is an advanced build.

So its better to wait for a public beta which will be more reliable.

Here is what "Mike Nash" has to say at Windows Vista Blog:

We are committed to continually improving Windows, and we've been getting some questions about the timing of the next service pack for Windows Vista.  Following the success of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 last spring, we have been working hard on Windows Vista Service Pack 2.

As a part of the development and testing process, we're going to start by providing a small group of Technology Adoption Program customers with Windows Vista SP2 Beta for evaluation next Wednesday, October 29.

The final release date for Windows Vista SP2 will be based on quality. So we'll track customer and partner feedback from the beta program before setting a final date for the release.

Windows Vista SP2 Beta contains previously released fixes focused on addressing specific reliability, performance, and compatibility issues. We expect Windows Vista SP2 will retain compatibility with applications that run on Windows Vista and Windows Vista SP1 and are written using public APIs.

Because we've adopted a single serviceability model, these improvements are integrated into a single service pack covering both Windows Vista (client) and Windows Server 2008 (server) versions. This should also minimize deployment and testing complexity for our customers.

In addition to previously released updates since the launch of Windows Vista SP1, Windows Vista SP2 contains changes focused on supporting new types of hardware and adding support for several emerging standards:

• Windows Vista SP2 adds Windows Search 4.0 for faster and improved relevancy in searches.
• Windows Vista SP2 contains the Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack supporting the most recent specification for Bluetooth Technology.
• Ability to record data on to Blu-Ray media natively in Windows Vista.
• Adds Windows Connect Now (WCN) to simplify Wi-Fi Configuration.
• Windows Vista SP2 enables the exFAT file system to support UTC timestamps, which allows correct file synchronization across time zones.

One question I know that you will ask is "should I wait for SP2?" The reality is that Windows Vista SP1 is a great platform that is both available on new Windows PCs and available as a free download for systems that are running the "gold" release of Windows Vista.  While we will recommend SP2 when it ships, your best bet today is Windows Vista SP1.

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