I wrote about SP1 for Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 last year, but now that the update is finally available, it's time for a refresher. Microsoft released SP1 to manufacturing (RTM) in early February 2011, about three months later than expected, and it should be available by the time you read this. It comes in different variants for 32-bit (x86, Windows 7) and 64-bit (x64, Windows 7, Server 2008 R2) products.
On Windows 7, SP1 adds a few minor changes besides hotfixes and bug fixes, including an updated version of Remote Desktop Services, better support for third-party federation services that utilize the WS-Federation passive profile protocol, improved HDMI audio device performance, and minor XPS document fixes.
On Server 2008 R2, the picture is quite different. Here, SP1 enables two major features:
Dynamic Memory. This feature enables Hyper-V to dynamically (on the fly) distribute memory between virtual machines (VMs) based on need, without interruption of service. While Hyper-V still has some catching up to do with regards to VMware’s more mature solutions, this addition closes the gap somewhat.
RemoteFX. This remote desktop technology dramatically improves the visual quality and performance of the remote user experience between a Windows 7 SP1 client and a Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1-based Hyper-V VM. It supports hardware-accelerated 3D capabilities for multimedia purposes and USB device redirection.
source:supersite
