A couple of big switches were flipped at Microsoft today.  And the status of two big updates changed as a result:

1. Windows Vista SP1 - Now available via automatic update.
2. Windows XP SP3 - RTM (Released to Manufacturing)

"Hey Kevin.. wasn't SP1 for Vista released awhile ago?"

Yes.  But today is the day that it becomes available to anyone who has automatic updates enabled. 

"Why did it take so long to get it up as an automatic update?"

Because it's a big update.  It really requires that the IT folks supporting it understand the update and get ready for rolling it out - either through their own efforts, or at least to understand how it will affect the desktops they're responsible for when it is made available through automatic updates.

Unfortunately, no matter how much advanced notice and however many resources we make available, there will still be many who are not ready for the update.  We try hard to ease that, but it's just a fact of life as a busy IT Pro... you don't always have time to get as ready for something like this as you'd like to.

"So.. is Windows XP SP3 available via automatic updates as well?"

No.  Today it is RTM.  The word is that you'll see it on Windows Update and the download center on April 29th, 2008. 

Here's the announcement of the availability of SP3 for Windows XP.

"Hmm.. sounds like I should just install SP3 on my XP machines rather than looking at Vista, right?"

Wrong!  If you really investigate it, you'll see that Vista is the RIGHT choice, RIGHT NOW.  Here are some resources that will help you in that investigation:

• Windows Vista TechCenter at http://technet.microsoft.com/en‐us/windowsvista/default.aspx.
• Springboard Series: The On‐Ramp for IT Pros at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/springboard.
• Windows Vista Product Overview for IT Professionals at http://technet.microsoft.com/en‐us/windowsvista/aa906027.aspx.
• Windows Vista: Common Deployment Questions Answered at http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/2d3a9d2b‐a7b8‐4b83‐9fc1‐120dacdc93711033.mspx?mfr=true.
• What's New in Group Policy in Windows Vista at http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/a8366c42‐6373‐48cd‐9d11‐2510580e48171033.mspx?mfr=true.
• TechNet Virtual Labs: Windows Vista at http://technet.microsoft.com/en‐us/bb539979.aspx.
• Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/enterprise/mdop/overview.mspx.

Seriously.. in the areas of Security, Manageability, Performance (yes, I mean it), Deployment, User Productivity, Mobility, Stability... and those are just for starters off-the-top-of-my-head!  You gotta go with Vista. 

What do you think?

This past week I had the pleasure of visiting Madison Wisconsin; not only for our HHH Launch event, but also for a delightful day speaking at the University of Wisconsin - Madison to lead a day of Windows Server 2008 training.

Here is my fifth in my series of video diaries for the launch events I've been attending and presenting at.  Hope you enjoy it!

HINT: Double-click it to see it full-screen.

NOTE: I'm getting better with this SilverLight publishing.. although I'm not too happy with the rendering that my video editing software is doing.  This was supposed to be a non-interlaced file, but the video produced by my video editing software sometimes really makes it look interlaced.  Sorry, Pinnacle.  I'm through fighting with your software.  Time for me to look at a new product.