When Windows Vista was originally released just over a year ago Microsoft commissioned Principled Technologies to compare the overall responsiveness of Windows Vista to Windows XP SP 2 for some common business and home tasks. With the release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) Principled has updated their results. Principled Technologies concluded the following when comparing business scenarios:

• Overall, Windows Vista SP1 and Windows XP performed comparably on most test operations. Performance differences between the two operating systems were typically less than a half second. Significant differences of over a second occurred on only nine of 128 measures; Windows Vista SP1 led on eight of those.
• Windows Vista SP1 was noticeably more responsive after rebooting than Windows XP on several common business operations.
• Overall, Windows Vista SP1 was more responsive than Windows Vista on most comparisons. Performance differences between the two operating systems were typically less than a quarter second.

Principled Technologies also concluded the following when comparing home scenarios:

• Overall, Windows Vista SP1 and Windows XP performed comparably on most test operations. Differences were typically less than a half second.
• Windows Vista SP1 was noticeably more responsive after rebooting than Windows XP on several common home operations.
• Overall, Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Vista performed comparably on most test operations, with differences typically less than a half second.

To download a PDF of the two most recent reports, as well as the original ones from last year, go directly to the Principled Technologies website - http://www.principledtechnologies.com/Clients/Reports/Microsoft/microsoft.htm