This April, coming to a computer near you will be the Wave 1 of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 downloads. The first service pack for the latest Windows client was released to manufacturing on February 4, 2008. A month and a half later, the Redmond company started serving Vista SP1 through Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center. That was Wave 0. Microsoft is now gearing up for the next RTM of Vista SP1 and Wave 1.

"I have a quick update for you about Windows Vista SP1. In mid-April, we will begin distributing SP1 (in the first 5 languages) using the Automatic Update system. We have a lot of Windows users, so not everyone will get it on the same day. In fact, it will go to a small percentage of Windows Vista users each day. The exact timing of when you will receive it depends on when your PC is ready for Windows Vista SP1," stated Christopher Flores, Director Windows Communications.

Wave 0 releases featured only the English (US), French, German, Japanese, and Spanish (Traditional) language versions of the service pack. After making Vista SP1 available for download in the initial five languages both as standalone packages and as updates through WU, the company will drop them via Automatic Updates. This means that, starting in mid-April, Vista SP1 in English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish will be distributed automatically to all Vista RTM copies with AU enabled.

But mid-April is also synonymous with the release to manufacturing of the remaining 31 language editions of Vista SP1, as well as Wave 1 downloads. "In addition to starting the automatic delivery of the first 5 languages, I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you that also we're on track for the initial release of SP1 in the remaining languages in mid-April," Flores added.

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the operating system is available for download HERE.