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SEATTLE - Microsoft said yesterday that the first update to the Windows Vista operating system has been released for manufacturing.
In a presentation to investors, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said the company had also released to manufacturing the first major upgrade to its operating system for server computers, Windows Server 2008.
Vista, the replacement for Windows XP, had its first birthday last Wednesday, but has been widely criticised since its release.
From early complaints about non-existent drivers for third-party devices to grizzles that a service pack release was too slow in coming, Microsoft has had more than its fair share of grief over the operating system.
Vista has sold more than 100 million copies since its release last January, mostly due to new machines shipping with it pre-installed.
Researchers IDC say 74 per cent of new PCs in New Zealand are sold with Vista already on board.
Windows XP was due to be discontinued last year, but was extended by Microsoft due to popular demand until midway through 2008.
A petition on tech publication Infoworld's site is asking that the software giant keep the older OS available for even longer.
A blog yesterday on whether or not Vista's first birthday was really worth celebrating has attracted some interesting comments from readers of this section - running the gamut from rabid Vista evangelists to Mac-pushing Windows-bashers.
- REUTERS / NZ HERALD STAFF
