Windows Vista SP1 restores faith
Monday, March 10, 2008 by Draginol | Discussion: Windows Vista
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is the first major update to Microsoft's controversial follow-up to Windows XP. I say controversial because Windows Vista got off to a bit of a rough start mostly in the area of driver support, the new User Access Control and just a number of polish issues that gave early adopters a bit of a sour taste.
We've been given a copy of the final release of Service Pack 1 and we're pleased to say it's a big step forward for Windows Vista users. Having previously been using the betas and most recently RC1, I had been disappointed with the general slowness and klunkiness of Windows Vista.
For most new users to Windows Vista, the first thing they would tend to notice is how much slower Windows Vista was versus Windows XP. With Service Pack 1, Windows Vista is very snappy. The overall experience is just much better. Here are the big improvements based on our testing:
- Superfetch is super. The most significant improvement we noticed in SP1 over Vista (including the RC's) is that superfetch is much better. Superfetch looks at what programs you tend to use and so when you boot up, it will tend to load pieces of these into memory. Now, users who get really uptight about the amount of memory used by the system on bootup will still have a cow. But the reality is that now when you load up the programs you usually run, it's lightning fast. If you've ever right-clicked on the desktop in Windows XP to create a folder and found it obnoxious how long it takes to bring up a pop up menu, you'll like SP1.
- File Management much snappier. In Windows Vista, moving files around was obnoxious. You'd get a dialog that would start to estimate the amount of time it would take to copy the files. If I'm moving 10 gigs around, sure, that might make sense. But even on relatively small file operations, I'd get this dialog. Now, moving things around in Windows is as fast or faster than it was on Windows XP. It's very snappy. One other plus, the zip handling is much faster.
- Using it with a laptop is nicer. One thing we noticed immediately over plain Vista was coming out of sleep was much much faster. This is particularly true if you have USB devices hooked up. It was very noticeable.
- General performance is better. Is it better than Windows XP? Most people will say no but it depends on what matters to you. Windows XP benchmarks better but in terms of actual responsiveness, Windows Vista is feeling faster on the same hardware for me. That is, loading up programs I commonly use, switching between programs, etc. I am inclined to agree with those who say that Vista will perform more slowly in benchmarking but Vista is a lot more intelligent in its memory management in SP1 than XP and vastly better than Vista plain.
There are numerous other updates to Windows Vista SP1 but in terms of what we think most users will notice, these are the big ones.
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SteveGosselin
Reply #2 Monday, March 10, 2008 8:13 PM
Reply #2 Monday, March 10, 2008 8:13 PM
ObjectDesktop (WindowBlinds, IconPackager,... + MyColors + CursorFX + ObjectDock) will be compatible with Vista SP1?
Astyanax
Reply #3 Monday, March 10, 2008 8:24 PM
I tried all but CursorFX when I ran x86 awhile back, WB, IP, MyColors and OD all ran fine.
Reply #3 Monday, March 10, 2008 8:24 PM
ObjectDesktop (WindowBlinds, IconPackager,... + MyColors + CursorFX + ObjectDock) will be compatible with Vista SP1?
I tried all but CursorFX when I ran x86 awhile back, WB, IP, MyColors and OD all ran fine.
Defrag1720
Reply #4 Monday, March 10, 2008 8:29 PM
I've had no problems with CursorFX in Vista. I originally worried about memory but read quite a bit about Superfetch and I don't worry about it anymore. Hard breaking old habits though. My laptop does have a Bluetooth problem with sleep mode, hoping SP1 cures that.
Frag
Reply #4 Monday, March 10, 2008 8:29 PM
ObjectDesktop (WindowBlinds, IconPackager,... + MyColors + CursorFX + ObjectDock) will be compatible with Vista SP1?
I've had no problems with CursorFX in Vista. I originally worried about memory but read quite a bit about Superfetch and I don't worry about it anymore. Hard breaking old habits though. My laptop does have a Bluetooth problem with sleep mode, hoping SP1 cures that.
Frag
Bebi Bulma
Reply #8 Monday, March 10, 2008 10:14 PM
Reply #8 Monday, March 10, 2008 10:14 PM
Will SP1 make it faster to see other networked computers? I've found that mapping network drives works a *lot* better.
SomeGuyInABikini
Reply #9 Monday, March 10, 2008 10:51 PM
Reply #9 Monday, March 10, 2008 10:51 PM
My case may not be the norm, but I have Vista Ultimate on a new (6 months old), custom built PC and haven't had any showstopper problems with my system. A couple weeks ago I installed SP1.
In general operations I've found SP1 to be significantly faster than plain Vista. Boot-to-desktop, program load times, copying/deleting/renaming files across drives and the network, finding networked computers and searching all seem to run nicely now; I'm not sure it's faster than XP, but it is at least now *comparable* in speed. Everything I had issues with seems to have been fixed. All programs I ran prior to SP1 still run fine.
Also, I find myself actually using the hibernate function which is also lightning fast to load compared to a standard bootup.
I just bought Object Desktop (yesterday) for the first time (how exciting!) and have been playing around with every skin, every cursor and every setting I could. I have, as of yet, not come across any graphical or programmatical abnormality.
SomeGuyInABikini, with his 3 cents
**As a sidenote, I love the "Molten" skin and the rotating Earth wallpaper. Props to the creators.
In general operations I've found SP1 to be significantly faster than plain Vista. Boot-to-desktop, program load times, copying/deleting/renaming files across drives and the network, finding networked computers and searching all seem to run nicely now; I'm not sure it's faster than XP, but it is at least now *comparable* in speed. Everything I had issues with seems to have been fixed. All programs I ran prior to SP1 still run fine.
Also, I find myself actually using the hibernate function which is also lightning fast to load compared to a standard bootup.
I just bought Object Desktop (yesterday) for the first time (how exciting!) and have been playing around with every skin, every cursor and every setting I could. I have, as of yet, not come across any graphical or programmatical abnormality.
SomeGuyInABikini, with his 3 cents
**As a sidenote, I love the "Molten" skin and the rotating Earth wallpaper. Props to the creators.
Excalpius
Reply #10 Monday, March 10, 2008 11:40 PM
Reply #10 Monday, March 10, 2008 11:40 PM
...and remember, folks, Vista needs a few reboots before it is fully optimized for your use. So the first boots after installing SP1 are NOT the best times to judge whether it is faster now. Since everything has been reset, it'll take a bit before it is back to 110%. Judge it again in a week or so, and I think you'll find it quite peppy. 
Astyanax
Reply #11 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 1:02 AM
Should be out very soon, within a few weeks at the most.
Reply #11 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 1:02 AM
When shall we see SP1 on WU?
Should be out very soon, within a few weeks at the most.
SteveGosselin
Reply #13 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 2:57 AM
download center + wu > 18 march 2008
automatic update via wu > mid-april
Reply #13 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 2:57 AM
When shall we see SP1 on WU?
download center + wu > 18 march 2008
automatic update via wu > mid-april
MetalHellssAngel
Reply #14 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 3:09 AM
Could you elaborate a bit on this I'm not sure what you mean by dowload center?
I can't wait to get my hands on SP1 from the sounds it, it's definitely a step in the right direction.
Reply #14 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 3:09 AM
When shall we see SP1 on WU?download center + wu > 18 march 2008automatic update via wu > mid-april
Could you elaborate a bit on this I'm not sure what you mean by dowload center?
I can't wait to get my hands on SP1 from the sounds it, it's definitely a step in the right direction.
InquiringMind
Reply #15 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 8:55 AM
Reply #15 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 8:55 AM
I look forward to this update. Especially since I have a laptop. Haven't checked but thought I'd ask, any word on that file system Vista was suppose to have? Cant remember the name. Fat32, NTFS and then this new one, whats the name of it again?
ZubaZ
Reply #17 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 10:10 AMWinFS. And no, it's not in SP1. I doubt we'll see that anytime soon.
Reply #17 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 10:10 AM
whats the name of it again?
WinFS. And no, it's not in SP1. I doubt we'll see that anytime soon.
Island Dog
Reply #18 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 10:47 AM
Reply #18 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 10:47 AM
I have had mixed results so far. Constant BSOD's on my HP Laptop, most likely due to a driver situation. Probably Nvidia.
How does it play with DX?
Sidebar gadgets made with DX don't appear to work on my system. Maybe someone else can try one of my Sidebar gadgets from my gallery.
http://islanddog.wincustomize.com
Astyanax
Reply #19 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 11:04 AM
What makes you say that? It's been RTM for weeks now.
nVidia strikes again! ...or why my last 2 cards have been ATi...
Reply #19 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 11:04 AM
And no, it's not in SP1. I doubt we'll see that anytime soon.
What makes you say that? It's been RTM for weeks now.
I have had mixed results so far. Constant BSOD's on my HP Laptop, most likely due to a driver situation. Probably Nvidia.
nVidia strikes again! ...or why my last 2 cards have been ATi...
ZubaZ
Reply #20 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 11:09 AM
Reply #20 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 11:09 AM
And no, it's not in SP1. I doubt we'll see that anytime soon.What makes you say that? It's been RTM for weeks now.
I meant WinFS won't be seen anytime soon.Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
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Reply #1 Monday, March 10, 2008 7:43 PM