Yes, Windows 7 SP1 is on the horizon

Holding out for SP1 before making the leap to Windows 7? Well, you'll be pleased to know that Service Pack 1 for Microsoft's latest OS is now on the horizon.

So, what's likely to be in SP1? Top of the list will be all the patches and bug fixes that have been delivered to customers already. If you're keeping up with patches than you already have these. On top of these patches and bug fixes will be tweaks and fixes based on feedback and telemetry received by Microsoft. Don't expect anything ground-breaking here, it'll mostly be under the hood tweaks.

SP1 will also bring with it support for new technologies. USB 3.0 is likely to be at the top of what is, admittedly, a short list.

I've received several reports that SP1 is already undergoing testing, and I've seen several lists of post-RTM build numbers for Windows 7, but these reports will remain unconfirmed until I see code (if you have code, let me know ...). Given the buzz, I'm convinced that SP1 is in the pipeline.

So, if there's not that much new going to be in SP1, what's the big deal? Well, it's really all down to the mantra that business and enterprise users will wait for SP1 before deploying a new OS (didn't work for Vista, where SP1 didn't really kick-start adoption of the OS). Rumors that SP1 is in the pipeline (a logical assumption given past history) is an indicator for business to start thinking about testing and deployment.

Note: Is this soon to be thinking about SP1? Is Microsoft rushing SP1 out of the door to help encourage adoption? SP1 for Vista came out some 15 months after the OS went RTM, while SP1 for XP took a little more than a year. I don't see SP1 for Windows 7 being out before October, so it's hardly a rush.

Are you eager for SP1? Seems to be that those already running Windows 7 seem happy enough with it and can't see any immediate need for a service pack. That said, the flip-side is that there are those who will, no matter what, hold out for SP1. Who's right and who's wrong? To be honest, unless you are involved with Microsoft, it doesn't really matter.

Waiting for SP1?