More Info on Why Server 2008 is Already at SP1
I see the humor in Microsoft making Server 2008 at release already marked SP1. At the same time I see the reasoning why. But as they say, "perception is reality."
What's problematic about this nomenclature is its effect on already incredulous administrators. Too many administrators will see this and smirk, "oh, there goes Microsoft again."
I really like Server 2008, and in the last year of my working with it on a daily basis I can truly say that it will be a major improvement for datacenters. So, I'll do what I can to dispel any snickering about this SP1 silliness.
That being said, I found more info on Kevin Remde's site taking about the reasons for the change. Click past the fold for more.
Kevin, a blue badge himself, writes about some common questions from the public and Microsoft's answers:
"Aw c'mon.. Does Microsoft think that putting SP1 in the name is going to speed up sales of Windows Server 2008?"
No. I doubt that you'll see "SP1" on any sales material or other marketing. It's not a sales ploy. It's simply an indication that the code is at the same level. I know for a fact that the SP1 designation has nothing to do with sales. You're smarter than that."So does having a common code base mean that every time an update comes out for Vista, there will also be an update for Server 2008? I can't afford to patch my servers every month!"
Of course there may indeed be times when an update will apply to both, because of this same-code reality. But think back to the updates that have come out during the past year that involved Windows Vista. How many of them updated the OS Kernel? The things that typically get updated have to do with applications or features installed on top of the base operating system and subsystems. And even though you can install it if you want, you aren't typically going to have the full "desktop experience" installed on Windows Server 2008. Very little is installed on Windows Server 2008 by default. (Examples: You have to install and enable the capability to play sound, to play media files, or to even have wireless network device support.) So keeping your servers as lean as possible - the same things you're already doing for the sake of higher performance and for keeping any potential "attack surface area" at a minimum - will mean that your servers should rarely need updates applied to them.
This taken from: http://blogs.technet.com/kevinremde/archive/2008/02/22/why-is-windows-server-2008-at-sp1-already.aspx
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