"Today we release the Beta of windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) to a private group of Beta testers via connect.microsoft.com. Brandon over on the Windows Experience blog has installed and regularly uses SP1 on all of his machines (as do I) and discusses the more notable elements of it. We'll review some of the changes made in SP1 later this week on the blog; what’s more, our VP of Product Management, Mike Nash, answers questions about Windows Vista and SP1 in a video on Channel9. Meanwhile, I invite you to read the SP1 white paper we published last month.
We also released today five reliability packages via connect.microsoft.com for testing by selected members of the community. These packages consist of numerous improvements to Windows Vista based on user feedback, and while they will also ultimately be part of SP1, we're working to make them available before the final version of SP1 is released so that your Windows Vista experience is the best we can make it. But for now, they're still undergoing testing and will come your way once they're ready for prime time.
The same goes for SP1: keep your eyes peeled and stick with us here on the blog, as we'll let you know how SP1 is progressing."
Yeah, I know I am quoting the article and not adding anything 
(sorry Raymond!) But this is great news! I am in the beta program, so lets see when we get the email.
From what I "hear", the performance fixes done are really great.
Now waiting for the beta download and C9 exclusive (can we get the vidoe of them signing off, like we got for the Longhorn server beta)
- Keeron