Windows Vista SP1 RTM Announcement

Not everyone is attuned to acronyms so let's clear that up first:

SP1 = Service Pack 1
RTM = Release to Manufacture

Mike Nash has a long blog post on the Windows Vista Team Blog about the Windows Vista SP1 RTM. I'll stick with the highlights here and you can read the full post at the link provided.
Processes Starting with RTM:

• OEM partners will get SP1 so new Windows Vista PCs will have SP1 pre-installed.
• Microsoft will start the manufacturing process for the retail product of Windows Vista with SP1.
• Microsoft will start the process to manufacture DVDs for enterprise customers who get software via the Volume Licensing program.

Availability of SP1:

• In mid-March Windows Vista SP1 to (in English, French, Spanish, German and Japanese) will be released to Windows update and to the download center on microsoft.com.

• In mid-April, Windows Vista SP1 will be released to Windows Vista customers who have chosen to have updates downloaded automatically.

• April, the remaining languages to RTM.

Important Note:

Beta testing of SP1 identified an issue with a small set of device drivers which do not follow Microsoft guidelines for driver installation. Although reinstalling the drivers solved the problem, SP1 will not be offered SP1 via Windows Update until the affected drivers have been updated by the vendor(s).

As updates for the affected drivers become available, they will be installed automatically by Windows Update, which will unblock these systems from getting SP1.