How will service packs and updates be handled in vista?

Since the method of install is different in vista because it is image based I
was wondering how will updates and service packs be handled. In xp I would
just slip stream them in the media so when I went back to do a reinstall I
would not have to redownload updates. With vista this does not seem possible.
I prefer slip stream instead of patching for 2 reasons, patching seems to
lower performance in a system over time and makes folders that are hard to
delete. Also patch allows users to uninstall patches or service packs which
is something I dont want happening on some systems.

Sort of in the same vein question. Where are Windows Updates stored so that
you don't have to download them again? This becomes more critical with
dialup accounts. Thank you in anticipation.

"Emory Tech" <EmoryTech@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6BBFA07F-4574-41C8-B3D5-5CC07AF9D5D7@microsoft.com...
> Since the method of install is different in vista because it is image
> based I
> was wondering how will updates and service packs be handled. In xp I would
> just slip stream them in the media so when I went back to do a reinstall I
> would not have to redownload updates. With vista this does not seem
> possible.
> I prefer slip stream instead of patching for 2 reasons, patching seems to
> lower performance in a system over time and makes folders that are hard to
> delete. Also patch allows users to uninstall patches or service packs
> which
> is something I dont want happening on some systems.