Following Microsoft’s release of Vista Service Pack (SP1) Release Candidate (RC) in December and the refreshed version in January it had been expected that Microsoft would make available the final release in the first quarter of 2008, but some say it could be available in the next few weeks, more than a month before the quarter ends on March 31.

A PC World article stated that a Taiwanese news outlet on Wednesday reported in a story that Vista SP1 would be released on February 15, just after Valentines Day. Michael Cherry, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft is quoted as saying “that date is as good as any other … For all we know, they could make it available tomorrow”

Several sources who work closely with Microsoft said a mid-February release is not unlikely, and they expect the software to be out before the end of March. Microsoft declined to comment on the February 15 date beyond confirming that the software would be available in the first quarter.

Many believe that the final release of the full version of SP1 will encourage business customers to update their employee desktops - we will wait and see - knowing that Windows 7 is on the horizon and is similar to Vista but uses less memory and is claimed to be more reliable with a new interface and features I have my doubts. The Windows 7 preview build M1 (Milestone 1) has already been leaked with a final release date expected in 2009.

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