Microsoft Corp. has made the final version of Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) available to customers who want it now via its Download Center and Windows Update. The vendor is still recommending that most consumers wait until mid-April when SP1 will start being pushed out through Automatic Updates, since that will make the whole download process easier for them, said Elliot Katz, product manager for Windows Client with Microsoft Canada Co. in Mississauga, Ont. However, "tech enthusiasts" can get the update now by running Windows Update, which will automatically determine if SP1 is appropriate for their PC. Business customers wanting to install SP1 on more than one PC can go to the Download Center, he said.

Businesses already running Microsoft Exchange Server already have all the security they'll need for mobile devices running Windows Mobile, stated a Microsoft spokesperson. While there's some perception that securing a mobile infrastructure is very costly, Alec Taylor, director of mobile communications business at Microsoft Canada, said that the security features of Microsoft Exchange Server or Small Business Server can be extended to Windows Mobile devices. Those devices in the field can be remotely managed, password access can be enforced and, in case of lost or theft, they can be remotely wiped by IT administrators.

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. says it is on the cusp of shipping its triple-core Phenom 8000 series processors. Whether AMD is about to ship the chips or has already begun to ship them is a little unclear. Industry reports suggested major OEMs Dell and Hewlett-Packard would use the Phenom 8600 for respective lines of business desktops.

Two new systems claim to make it easier and safer to shop online, by letting you pay for goods directly from your bank account without having to hand over card details. But experts are warning consumers not to be "lulled into a false sense of security".

Half of the UK's broadband users are unhappy with the service from their internet providers even though high-speed connections are at their cheapest and fastest, according to a survey by price comparison service uSwitch.

A senior Chinese government official has said that he welcomes closer international ties to develop the country's burgeoning digital media sector, but also delivered a stark warning to foreigners not to use "internet issues" to meddle in China's "internal affairs".

Japan's Toshiba Corp waved the white flag in the high-definition home movie war on Tuesday, giving up on its HD DVD format after losing the support of key studios and retailers to the Blu-ray technology backed by Sony Corp.

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This article appears as part of our comprehensive guide to Windows Vista in the March 07 issue of PC Advisor, available now in all good newsagents. Click here to visit our dedicated Windows Vista forum.

If your PC is running Microsoft Windows Vista Business or Windows Ultimate and you're fed up with the OS, you may be able to ditch Vista for XP Pro. The software giant is now allowing some customers who are fed up with Vista to revert back to XP, and has started to provide PC builders will a 'downgrade' option on Vista Business and Vista Ultimate.