Vista Update Expected Today

The long-awaited first service pack for Microsoft Vista will be available online starting today, at least according to Amazon, which is taking orders for boxed copies of the upgrade pack and says it will start shipping them tomorrow. Many of the pack's updates and security fixes have already been sent to users as part of monthly updates since Vista launched last year to decidedly mixed reviews.

Early reviewers of the upgrade noted that Vista showed improvement in areas including gaming and copying files over a network, the AP reports. Microsoft has said the pack will improve Vista's reliability, security, and performance, although it will block or slow some applications. The software giant had previously said the upgrade will be available for download in mid-March, but didn't confirm that meant today. (More Microsoft Vista stories.)