Although it is on the verge of releasing the first service pack for Windows Vista, Microsoft has not stopped hammering away at the operating system via Windows Update. The Redmond company is currently in a transition process, subtle as it might be. A migration from a strategy focused on delivering major updates for its software products to one centered on an incremental evolution. Although the service pack strategy has become a tradition for Microsoft, the future points to a shift toward Windows Update.

Concomitantly with the advent of Windows Vista, the Redmond company started downplaying the relevance of service pack releases and pointing to Windows Update. Of course that the main reason for trying to shift consumer attention away from Vista SP1 was the need to ship its latest Windows operating system, ahead of its first major refresh. This is why increased emphasis was placed on the continuous evolution of the service pack ahead of Vista SP1.

Throughout 2007, Microsoft has served bits and pieces of Service Pack 1 to Windows Vista users via Windows Update. This move was made as an illustrative example that the inherent benefits associated with Vista SP1 could be enjoyed in advance of the service pack. Updates boosting functionality, performance, reliability, compatibility and stability dropped via WU long before Vista SP1. In fact, the service pack will be merely a repetition of the updates already shipped. This is of course valid only for a portion of all the contents that Vista SP1 will bring to the table.

Additionally, Microsoft is already in the final stages of development with the service pack for Vista and, at a certain point, the company will stop integrating updates released via WU into SP1. Indications are that, at this point in time, the Redmond company has already stopped including updates into Vista SP1, as the service pack approaches RTM.

On January 21st, Microsoft made available a range of Vista updates designed to "improve the graphics performance for multiple Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) scenarios on a system running Windows Vista - KB945149; resolve an issue where delays are experienced while accessing a WebDAV share for the first time on a system running Windows Vista - KB945435; resolve an issue where a user is prompted for Windows Live Passport credentials every time a document is accessed on a WebDAV site from a new workspace - KB945145; resolve a performance issue on Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)-based programs on a system running Windows Vista - KB938660; and to resolve an issue in administrative MMC snap-ins where icons display incorrectly on a Windows Vista-based computer with Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack installed - KB944652."

- Update for Windows Vista (KB945149)
- Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB945149)

- Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB945435)
- Update for Windows Vista (KB945435)

- Update for Windows Vista (KB945145)
- Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB945145)

- Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB938660)
- Update for Windows Vista (KB938660)

- Update for Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition (KB932762)
- Update for Windows XP x64 Edition (KB932762)
- Update for Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems (KB932762)
- Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB932762)

- Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB944652)
- Update for Windows Vista (KB944652)

- Update for Windows XP (KB934428)