Vista SP2 Beta Available

Microsoft just announced that the beta for SP2 for Vista and Windows 2008 will become available to MSDN subscribers on Thursday (they call it CPP = Customer Preview Program).

The installer will include the SP for both operating systems, as well as all previous updates since SP1.

Amongst the new features you can find:

• Better Wi-Fi connectivity (as well as a new Wi-Fi connection wizard called WCN = Windows Connect Now)
• Support for non-Intel CPUs (Like the 64bit VIA)
• Support for Bluetooth 2.1 (including BT stereo etc.)
• Support for a new file system called exFAT (sounds like a diet plan to me ) for Flash memory devices
• Hyper-V support for better virtualization
• An improved installer that can remove software and restore the macine to pre-SP2 state

Read this for a full list, including download sizes and installation instructions. Noticeably missing are any promisses of performance iimprovements. For that you'd have to wait for Windows 7, I guess .

Microsoft would like everyone to install and test the beta as soon as possible, and start sending them feedback. Rumor has it that the proposed release date is April '09.