 |
| G |
Complex, Adaptive Systems consist of elements (or agents) that are capable of interacting, obtaining knowledge, and self-organizing to achieve specific goals.19 In addition, elements of any given CAS are affected by negative and positive feedback loops.19 This characteristic sheds light on Microsoft's motives for releasing Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1), an update enhances the security, performance, and reliability of Vista.
The feedback from Vista customers was overall not positive. Many thought Vista was “slow and hard to use [compared with XP].”20 Microsoft used this negative feedback loop to form a complex adaptive system which addressed these and other issues. This CAS gave rise to SP1. All registered bugs and security holes reported have been fixed in SP1.21 It also reduced the number of User Account Control prompts.21 Another issue fixed by SP1 is that Vista will no longer go into reduced functionality mode if a user provides an incorrect (or pirated) license key.21
Vista SP1 has new and improved security features. It now uses signed Remote Desktop (RDP) files “which lets users run terminal-based applications with locally installed applications.” 21 SP1 also offers BitLocker Drive Encryptions and “allows only authenticated applications to report themselves as valid for updating a system’s security state.”21 Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is also getting support from NetWorker release 7.4 Service Pack 2. NetWorker is addressing issues regarding non-VSS (Visual SourceSafe) backups, event tags and COM+ (Component Object Model) registry databases.22
SP1 has also made performance and reliability enhancements. It eliminated the 7-10 second delay experienced by offline domain-joined clients, reduced the power consumption on mobile computers, and improved the RDP usage by “implementing a new algorithm for compression of bitmap images travelling over an RDP channel.”21
The improvements made by Vista SP1 have changed consumer attitudes about Vista and has encouraged more people to use Vista. However, many PCs users who are satisfied with their current XP systems are reluctant to put forth the effort and expense necessary to make the switch to Vista.21
