Vista just can't seem to catch a break. With the release of the widely anticipated service pack 1 on Tuesday, Microsoft may have thought that many of the complaints that have plagued the operating system since its own release earlier this year were being addressed for a sometimes reluctant userbase, and that a more stable version of the system may have encouraged late-adopters to take the plunge, feeling that the worst was behind.

But SP1 has had more than its fair share of problems, and some IT departments aren't shy in speaking out about them.

I'm not sure this actually makes much difference, although a more positive reception might have improved the numbers. I haven't heard anyone actively planning a Vista upgrade for months now. Those who were already committed to doing so are have done it or are still testing, but many others seem content to ride the fence and see what Windows 7 looks like before making a firm decision.

Fortunately, I subscribe to the "Wait for SP4" rule myself; according to my calculations I should be able to upgrade to XP in about a year (SP3 just came out yesterday!).