Entered CNET Catalog: 08/29/2006
SKU: CNETMSWINDOWSVISTARC1
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corp.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 09/01/2006
The term Release Candidate is given to software considered to be feature complete and stable and, if no major bugs are found, is usually followed in short order with the Release to Manufacture (RtM) version (for OEM vendors) and final code (for sale to the general public). But unlike the release of Windows XP RC1 on July 2, 2001, when Microsoft issued a press release announcing 115 days until Windows XP's final release (a promise it kept), Microsoft is still unable to provide an exact date for the final release of Windows Vista, although the online retailer Amazon is taking preorders for with a release date of January 30, 2007. Windows Vista RC1 feels a little unbaked and could probably benefit from more user testing.
For this First Take, CNET had access to Windows Vista RC1 (build 5564), which may or may not be the same build number released to the public, and is a more mature build than the pre-RC1 released to the public at the end of August. For a look inside, see our Windows Vista RC1 slide show.
Windows Vista RC1 features fit and finish, mostly trivial improvements when compared with Windows Vista Beta 2. For example, there's an icon in the task tray to restore the Sidebar feature when it's disabled, and there's tighter integration with the Windows Live family of online services, such as Windows Live OneCare. The real improvements are under the hood and are present in increased performance and greater stability.
Our installation of Windows Vista RC1 onto a dual-core Acer TravelMate 8200 laptop was fast; RC1 installed onto a clean partition in about 30 minutes as opposed to 45 minutes for Beta 2. After a series of questions--such as choice of account name, PC name, and wallpaper--Vista launches with the familiar Sidebar gadgets of a digital clock, photo gallery, and RSS along the right-hand side of the desktop, on by default. All of our laptop's drivers installed during installation and did not, as in previous builds, require us to search for updates. New to the desktop is an icon for the Windows Vista compatibility wizard (see below), where you can configure your favorite software to run on the new operating system.
Also new are the introductory sounds when booting into and exiting Vista; these are not the final musical cues for Vista, just placeholders, but sounds have been noticeably absent in previous builds. There's a built-in screensaver now, and you'll notice more fading in and out when accessing the desktop. And we also found Vista's ability to sleep and wake up is much improved in build 5564; previously we've had to reboot our laptop, thereby losing our previous sessions.
The Welcome Center, which greets new users upon bootup, includes the standard help features, such as how to configure your network, your printer, and connect to the Internet. New are links to Microsoft Windows Live online services, such as Windows Live OneCare, Windows Live Messenger, and Windows Live Mail (formerly Hotmail).
The Program Compatibility wizard identifies third-party software on your desktop and, if necessary, creates a "Vista shim" to fool the program into thinking it's running on an older operating system, perhaps the OS it was designed to run on. It's a clever idea. However, I think malicious coders may find a way to exploit this feature in the future. This is one of a few security concerns I have with this supposedly secure operating system from Microsoft.
User Account Control
While maintaining that Vista is the most secure operating system it's released to date, Microsoft has also backed off in this RC1 release on its aggressive User Account Control (UAC) protection. Previously, some early testers had complained that access to most features was blocked by an annoying message asking the user to obtain permission or, if the user was already an administrator, to simply click through a warning dialog box first. Worse, while the UAC message appears, the entire desktop darkens so that one has to acknowledge the message before continuing. In our testing, RC1 (build 5564) has introduced some graphic distortion every time a UAC message appears onscreen; while this distortion is minor, it wasn't apparent in previous builds and will need to be fixed before final release. Overall, Microsoft has relaxed its criteria for issuing a UAC warning within RC1; for example, you'll no longer see a UAC warning whenever you delete an icon from the desktop. A list of other UAC changes in RC1 can be found in this blog. As administrator, it is also possible to turn off the User Account Control completely.
Unfortunately rumors circulating on the Internet suggesting that Microsoft had discontinued the practice of declaring the person installing the OS to be the default administrator are false. In Vista RC1, it is still possible to install the OS and not create a password yet enjoy full administrator privileges--we did so. This is a dangerous proposition, as remote attackers can use this lack of an all-power administrator password coupled with a disabled UAC to escalate privileges on your system and therefore take over your PC. In other operating systems, such as Max OS X and Linux, operating as administrator without a password is not possible. We were also able to create new users without password protection; a simple dialog-box warning told us that one or more users did not have password protection, but the accounts were created nonetheless.
Individual password-protected accounts are critical to Windows Vista's new built-in Parental Controls feature. Present in previous builds, Parental Controls don't look all that different in RC1, but behind the scenes they're supposed to be smarter. We couldn't find direct evidence of that in our initial testing; the configuration panels have not changed much since Beta 2, but Microsoft Windows Vista group product manager Chris Flores suggested that filters within RC1 are more sensitive to age ranges, allowing parents more granular control of the sites blocked automatically. Windows Vista will use the same filters as Windows Live OneCare Family Safety. Without password protection on any of the accounts, however, we were able to switch the user back to administrator and tweak our Parental Controls account more to our own liking.
Eye candy in Windows Vista RC1
The Windows Photo Gallery has been tweaked and now allows you to play videos within slide shows you can create by simply clicking your selected images or clips. You may also tag your video and images, allowing more flexibility in sorting and searching.
Windows Media Center has also been tweaked further in RC1 and now displays a visual image that responds to the songs being played or will play a slide show of images culled from your Windows Photo Gallery.
A new feature resides within the Windows Mobility Center, a collection of tools used by laptops, such as the battery meter and the control to switch the display to a projector or other monitor during meeting presentations. New in RC1 is the ability to default to a neutral desktop wallpaper during presentations and to turn off screensavers, IM messages, and system messages (such as UAC). This should prevent cute pictures of your kid or a quick IM from an old college buddy from distracting your clients during a sales presentation.
Another useful enhancement is tucked within Windows Meetings Space: an ad hoc wireless collaboration tool used to share or transfer any file from one system to another that warns of potential dangers in accepting certain file types. In Windows Vista RC1, Microsoft has imposed the same blocked extension rules used by Microsoft Outlook, meaning that EXE files, for example, would trigger a warning that accepting such files might expose your system to malware.
Buried deep within Windows Vista RC1 is the latest iteration of WinFX technology. Renamed .Net Framework 3 in RC1, this new technology allows developers to create new graphics-dependent browsers, such as the new viewer being built by Microsoft for the New York Times online. Unlike previous .Net technology, .Net Framework 3 will be native to Windows Vista and not require an additional download.
Overall, Windows Vista RC1 still feels unbaked in spots, and I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft exercised its option to roll out one more release candidate (RC2) before sending coding to manufacturers or setting a final ship date for customers. Windows Vista RC1 is good, but don't be alarmed if some aspect of this ambitious new operating system doesn't work as advertised.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46out of 46 user reviews
I am using build number 5600 right now!
Pros: The new version seems to be almost ready for production
Cons: Still a few things to work out, but not many
out of 46 user reviews
A giant step back
Pros: Beautiful UI; more security; better recovery options
Cons: MUCH harder to use; annoying
First, the new security measures are subpar. Instead of forcing you to sign as Administrator to make system changes, Microsoft chose a idiotic approach. First, the default user is considered an Administrator with restrictions. Which means you are annoyed before changing every important setting, with some blocked (like the boot loader). Do you want to log in as Administrator to avoid being annoyed and change the boot loader? Tough! You either have to start in Safe Mode OR jump through 100 hoops to get Administrator showing up on the sign in screen.
The boot loader is aweful. Microsoft took a simple boot loader and threw it away. They say the new one is "better" and it supports EFI. But, how is that something is next to impossible to figure out how to get working to do the exact same thing "better"? And the old boot loader was simple, so it should have been simple to make it support EFI. But NO! And Microsoft decided against providing a program to help you.
Also, the "run" command on the start menu is not shown by default. Another stupid move.
And the DRM integration. Ugh! Big corporations love to take away rights to inconvience a vast minority of pirates for a month.
Installing unsigned drivers? Sorry, even it does work just fine. Want to use 3rd party antivirus programs? Sorry.
Now the good. It does look great. It does have better system recovery options. These are a lot better.
My advice is to wait until people scream to remove the 10 million annoyances.
out of 46 user reviews
A Step In the Right Direction, With Some Nagging Problems
Pros: Nice UI, much better security, decent search
Cons: Compatibility issues, unhelpful diagnostic messages
The new search feature is nice, but it's something I already enjoyed via Google Desktops floating toolbar, and I still like Google's implementation better, because you can position that anywhere on the screen. (If you can reposition the Windows Search, could somone let me know?) I also like the fact that you can shut down in one-click now. The gadgets/widgets don't really impress me, because those too, are available through Google Desktop, and Google's implementation has more of them.
There are some serious drawbacks within the current Vista:
1) ZoneAlarm isn't compatible. That wouldn't be so bad if Vista came w/ antivirus software, but it doesn't, that I can tell. So this means that testers will have a firewall but potentially be without anti-virus ability. (I haven't tried AVG Free yet. Maybe that'll work.)
2) A device came up as incompatible with Vista, but the system didn't give any description of the device. That's not acceptable. I have maybe 5 USB devices attached to my system (some directly to the laptop, and some to the docking station). Saying that "a USB device has been detected" isn't really telling me anything I can use.
3) Intermittently, my trackball will just stop working. It won't give an error or anything. It'll just stop. This might be the USB problem referenced in #2, but who's to say, without more explanation?
I think once more software vendors get on the bandwagon that Vista will be a nice OS to have. I'm still playing around with it to see what it's capable of. But there are some problems in implementation that I hope they'll resolve.
out of 46 user reviews
THE NEW WINDOWS!
Pros: The New Browser, Multi-Window View
Cons: The Upgrade Release
out of 46 user reviews
Lots of cool additions that make life easier
Pros: Searching from the Start Button saves lots of time, Cool look, vastly improved security features, Viewing computers on the network works much faster now, Burn DVD's without added software, WMP 11
Cons: Still some more tweaks and bug fixes needed
out of 46 user reviews
The more i use Vista the more it looks like XP
Pros: Looks nice compared to XP, some useful features
Cons: drivers are still a big problem, many program still not stable
out of 46 user reviews
Better than Beta 2
Pros: Better than beta 2, more stable
Cons: Requires a ton of resources, needs to be slimmed down a little bit
out of 46 user reviews
Best Windows to date!
Pros: Recognizes all hardware, great features, boot up much faster than XP..tons and tons more.
Cons: Some great software is not supported; Nero 7.
Great release by Microsoft. I'm waiting to see the "three surprise features" I've heard of over the net.
out of 46 user reviews
Great interface, multimedia and tablet functionality.
Pros: Great interface changes. Tablet features work great. Improved device synching,
Cons: Load up time unimpressive. Dock station problems.
The windows interface is long overdo for an overhaul. I was growing tired of the XP look, while I never found the Mac look apealing. The Vista interface has a darker, more mature look to it that I find apealing. A lot of people prefer windows because they are used to the navigation. Vista has some differences but overall its very similar to xp. Sorry if my grammer is bad, but I'm supposed to be working.
out of 46 user reviews
Vista Beats the socks off XP, Works Great, Looks Greater!
Pros: New Look, Smooth, Great graphical effects, SECURITY, NEW
Cons: Takes up 13 gig, some xp programs hard 2 find, DRIVERS missing
-Breakdown
Pros: *Visuals(Windows switcher is the BEST)
*Ease of use (everything is easy to get to, and works well)
*GADGETS ( these little things on the right side of my desktop are my favorate add on to windows, Time, Weather, System preformance, Calander, and NOTE PAD)
*Truble shooter (works well when truble shooting)
*Different(Vista is just way beyond xp, and in many ways past OSX, it just feels different, acts different, and i love it)
* Security (RC1 detects internet sites that may try 2 install malware, and spyware amung other things)
*INTERNET EXPLORER AND WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER DONT SUCK ANYMORE ( less use of firefox, and iTunes
Cons: I only had truble with finding my network printer and getting a driver for my webcam (i still havent fixed ether problem)
OVERALL:
Vista is a Great operating system, with Major advancements over other windows. If you can run Vista, GET RC1 and TRY it!, you wont regret it!
out of 46 user reviews
Where is your review on 5600??
Pros: Much faster then beta 2
Cons: still has some program compatilibality problems
out of 46 user reviews
Microsoft really works
Pros: Loooots of programs, fun, sexy, “ It just work”
Cons: slow with old machines, need new video card for Aero
For does who like Mac OS X, download the windows vista Features on from Microsoft ABOUT 300 Pages, So before talking about coping mac os read all the features.
sorry my english
out of 46 user reviews
Beautiful AND smart
Pros: Media Center, Photo Gallery, IE7, Security, Media Player, Meeting Space, Search, Remote Desktop.
Cons: Some programs don't work in Vista yet. (DivX crashes Media Center)
out of 46 user reviews
This is the new windows revuloution
Pros: looks cool, has cool programs, Stable
Cons: a little pricey
out of 46 user reviews
Dual Monitors
Pros: Looks Classy San Diego
Cons: Feels like driving a '91 escort
Topmoo
out of 46 user reviews
Great new OS...Its gonna be AWESOME
Pros: new design, better/ new features, more stable
Cons: GUI inconsitenices, Drivers, long boot, UAC
The main problem i had with vista was the fact that they rewrote the driver model so I THOUGHT that the xp drivers for my Airlink 101 wireless g card wouldnt work, but lo and behold they did after i though of trying it...wow!
other minor irritants are the long boot (hopefully thats fixed) and the gui inconsitenceis.
UAC is STUPID, it might be helpful for people who dont use the system utilities but for those who use them ofter is is a pain in the rear, i just disalbed them.
otherwise i really like the new operating system, it doesnt crash, bascially bugless, and it is on its way to being a great operating system...LETS hope that microsoft gets rid of the remaining bugs by RTM with all of the people they are having to test VISTA
out of 46 user reviews
Loving It.... Big step foward for Windows
Pros: Love the the new look and feel
Cons: Small Learning Curve
It's a big step foward for Windows!
out of 46 user reviews
Ridiculous prices
Pros: It tries to be as great as OS X.
Cons: It is not OS X.
out of 46 user reviews
its perfect
Pros: great interface
Cons: still have a few bugs
out of 46 user reviews
Same old Windows with registry file
Pros: Freash look, better than XP
Cons: buggy, took them forever to release
out of 46 user reviews
Will buy on day of release!
Pros: Great GUI design and features
Cons: minor issues, features in new locations
out of 46 user reviews
Looks like its going to be a winner
Pros: Better UI, security and solid new features
Cons: roughness around the edges
out of 46 user reviews
Vista Will rock
Pros: Great add ons better than the previous one
Cons: COME ON "ITS A BETA"
out of 46 user reviews
Still buggy and stupid OS design
Pros: Quick installation, Aero, searches, animations
Cons: Program Compatibility Wizard is a joke, inconsistent designs in OS
Another problem I have is the inconsistencies with the User Interface design. I believe that Microsoft wanted to integrate Internet Explorer-like functionality and interface with its regular programs and wizards. But in their wizards (take Windows DVD maker as an example), their 'NEXT' button appears as a text button at the bottom right of the dialog box, while the 'BACK' button is a graphical blue button at the top left of the box. Why? The OS is littered with such inconsistencies. The windows title bars is sometimes transparent, sometimes solid black (usually after maximizing the window). I could go on.
The wows for Windows Aero and slickness won't last very long. Ultimately the OS must let you do what you did (apart from type or surf email) in a clear, consistent manner, which till now, it does not do well.
out of 46 user reviews
Vista rocks !!!
Pros: Vista's perfect.
Cons: Vista's perfect.
out of 46 user reviews
The RC1 build I got was build 5600
Pros: Sleek interface, uses less memory than Beta 2, WMP11, IE7, very stable
Cons: still uses more memory than it has to, performance could be better
out of 46 user reviews
Looks pretty good... for windows.
Pros: New Aqu... I mean Aero Glass skin, and some cool new features.
Cons: Still not Tiger, let alone Leopard. Will be buggy for the first year or so.
out of 46 user reviews
Great OS, good improvement over XP
Pros: Sleek OS, 64-bit is faster than XP MCE 2005
Cons: Some programs don't work in 64-bit version
out of 46 user reviews
A worthy upgrade. Too bad it wasn't sooner.
Pros: New enhancements such as premium sound management only found in high end products along with BitLocker, a simplified interface, a new driver model, and the glass help justify a decent upgrade.
Cons: Full installs are pricey, but the price:features ratio is twice as good as what one would get with a MacOS "paid service pack"
Despite all of this, I'll stick with Ubuntu simply because it's free.
out of 46 user reviews
Microsoft has finally done it!
Pros: Menu system, interface, easy of use
Cons: Should have kept the name LongHorn.
In fact, I plan to buy a PC in the next few weeks and upgrade to Vista when it comes out. Microsoft has a huge advantage because of so much compatibility, but now it has the operating system to boot. Kudos Microsoft!!
out of 46 user reviews
Doesn't need to be a Mac to be great
Pros: Compatibility and simple
Cons: delayed and then delaed and still delayed
I am a graphic designer with his own company, and every person that I hire uses a PC by their own choice. The Mac we have just sits there. We call it the Desktop iPod. Does that mean Macs suck, no, just not our choice. Vista will be a welcomed upgrade but neither new Mac OS or Vista will dramatically improve my workflow, but they will both look prettier and add some nice toys. OSes are nice, but it is about applications and Adobe Apps runs great on both but its the little things that push me to Windows. So I welcome the added Candy and my only complaint is the delays. However, XP does everyting I need it to do. I will not knock down the ratings because I still sore on win98.
out of 46 user reviews
Best OS choice
Pros: It's to us on how to manage that os
Cons: Great for modern hardware compatiblity
out of 46 user reviews
Could be more original
Pros: Sleeker interface, new helpful wizards, more secure
Cons: Many of the features are stollen from elsewhere
out of 46 user reviews
Still not even OS X Tiger, let alone Leopard
Pros: Great integration vs XP, graphics performance improvements
Cons: Ram hog?, Battery life?, true compatability?
The real question is will Vista CLOSE THE GAP a bit between microsoft and macintosh OSs, and we'll have to wait and see. But I think it may a bit.
out of 46 user reviews
For a windows user with fast machine it is almost a must to try!
Pros: Fast, fresh, modern
Cons: UI is not easy and not logical sometimes
Microsoft was apparently under high pressure to deliver quality product, so RC1 is much better than Beta2: more devices (according to reports) are recognized initially, search is now working fine, interface is (mostly) streamlined and looks neat. I also hope the code-wise new Vista is far more advanced then XP in general. I believe that once you use it with, for instance, new Office 2007 beta, you can really improve your productivity! I’m not a Linux or Mac user (I tried Linux – I find it too awkward for a regular user – like trying to figure out for a half-an-hour how on earth copy files from CD-ROM to hard drive!, as for Mac - with all its polished glamour and hardware charm IT IS NOT USER-FRIENDLY AT ALL!) So, Windows Vista is a useful continuation (alas long-awaited) for a Windows user! Hackers will love it for sure (who cares?), so will we. Eventually it will have the same problems as Windows XP with all these patches and stuff – it is well understood given its extreme market-share for desktop/laptop realm (98% ?
). But it is not the point, the points is that IMHO everybody, including hackers, office workers, students, web developers, journalists, smart people, not very smart people, blonds, engineers, song writers, businessmen, CEOs, housewives and CNET users everybody will have a lot of fun with new Windows Vista! The tag price is high (400$ ?) I agree, but Vista RC1 will work till mid of 2007, free of charge. And maybe by that time you will install FreeBSD, God save you!out of 46 user reviews
Vistalicious
Pros: Much faster Media Center HD playback
Cons: needs more drivers for SATA and Audio Optical out
What 're you lookin' at ... back to work....
out of 46 user reviews
Nice but...
Pros: Better compatibility
Cons: Less Security
The issue I have seen, and has plagued Windows since I can remember, is that Microsoft allows the Super User, or root access to be active upon first setting up the OS. Then allowing generic users to have administrative access as well.
Although this may not be an issue for most, people tend to forget with security laxed as it is in Windows "Vista" now, without the needing of a password for installing security patches etc, I can see a huge problem occurring.
All a hacker needs to do now is write a virus that will allow the code that dictates where the updates look at, and install a virus or hacked version of an update and no one will be any the wiser, till it is too late.
Microsoft needs to stop ***** footing around with security, and get serious for once. I for one will not be buying Vista till they start looking seriously about removing their legacy code, and start taking a serious look about locking down their OS for security, and proof it from hackers... Which we all know at this point in time may never happen.
My next computer may be a Mac.
out of 46 user reviews
Great Job so far
Pros: Beautiful UI, Stable, very compatible
Cons: still a couple tweaks that need to be made before final
out of 46 user reviews
Still not as good as macs
Pros: better design than xp
Cons: still no built in virus protection
out of 46 user reviews
Very promising
Pros: Very good...
Cons: Some work still left to be done..
out of 46 user reviews
Great beautification
Pros: Visually much better than XP, gadgets are nice, no crash so far!
Cons: A new UI to get used to
Although some people would say it's using ideas from Apple's Tiger, I feel overall it doesn't appear much of a copy to me (I also use Tiger).
The installation process wasn't too pretty. My screen was full of random pixels for a few seconds for example and it had to restart several times (but didn't require any user interaction).
The Gadget feature is nice and was something I missed compared to Tiger's Widgets.
I've noticed that in some cases the screen is not drawn optimally. E.g. when you resize a window (using the right/lower edge) the frame is flashing a lot and the URL in IE is also flashing in this case. Apple is still doing a better job on such details. But these kind of things are minor and it still looks a lot better than XP.
Overall so far I haven't found a reason for wanting to go back to XP.
I'm starting to really feel annoyed by the way Vista is designed to be more safe against viruses and spyware. It's like someone designed an OS then someone else found the security risks in it. Then a third team found ways to add protection on top of it to patch the holes. It feels like nobody designed from buttom up with maximum ease of use and security in mind at the same time. It's not fun to use Vista when you do something just a bit more than mainstream use cases. I had a hard time setting up a network printer for example. I wish they could make the security issues something I just don't need to worry about and don't need to be reminded about constantly.
Tiger is just way more better on that parameter I realize. A major challenge for Microsoft I believe is that their architecture with the registry, DLL files and certain folders etc. can not be cleaned up for improved security easily because it would eliminate backward compatibility.
out of 46 user reviews
Far better than Beta 2...
Pros: Much needed update graphically; great search capability; revamped Photo Library Program...
Cons: More system intensive, need a fairly new computer to run, not near as good of an update as XP was...
I've been running Vista on a year old Dell Inspiron 600M with the following specs:
1.5Ghz Pentium M
768MB RAM
40GB HDD
32MB ATi Radeon Mobility Video
While it does use it's fair share of memory, roughly 320-400 of my 768 MBs; while running Internet Explorer 7, AIM, and Media Player.... it does seem to respond better than it's previous incarnation (Beta2).
Like always, you're going to need at least around 1GB of RAM to run this OS smoothly, but even with my amount it seems to run decently.
Finally, Windows has their own "spotlight" feature with the built-in, much improved search capabilities. Unfortunately, my computer can't run the Aero interface so I can't report on that, even so -- I can say without a doubt the nicely updated GUI colors of Vista basic isn't that bad at all -- quite appealing; much better than XP's standard colors.
Overall, it's better than what we've seen in the past; and even so you might not really need it; because everything you can do in Vista you can do in XP with a few extra programs here and there. And you need a fairly up-to-date PC to run.
Oh, Vista Ultimate is completely overpriced at $400.00; Microsoft has got to be kidding me. Good attempt from Microsoft, but it makes you wonder that this is all they've achieved after five years of development; I feel a little underwhelmed.
out of 46 user reviews
Media Center Rocks
Pros: Switching to TV Tuner was so seemless that you wonder why this was never there in the first place
Cons: It's a lighting show between apps and it get's old quik
out of 46 user reviews
Huge, unwieldy OS of no obvious benefit
Pros: Some improvement in a few user interfaces
Cons: Large, inefficient, many poorly designed user interfaces
The operating system is huge in size and is very inefficient. A few user interfaces have been improved, but many are very poorly designed.
The "security features" appear to be designed more to harass the users than to provide any real improvement in security.
Microsoft has once again changed the driver design with the result that hardware vendors are faced with the problem of writing new drivers for Vista. Drivers for many hardware devices are unavailable at this time.
out of 46 user reviews
Not yet...
Pros: Looks great
Cons: More filling
"The latest info from MS: (RC1 can be download now!)
All CONNECT users of Vista can download it now!
It's official - Windows Vista RC1 is done!
We could not have achieved this milestone without your support. The quantity and quality of feedback and data we received from you has been essential to helping us progress. Thus we wanted you to be the first customers outside of Microsoft to get access to the bits. Next week, a broader set of technical customers will get them via MSDN and TechNet. But you're the first! We wanted to get it into your hands asap so you can start giving us feedback right away.
You'll notice a lot of improvements since Beta 2. We've made some UI adjustments, added more device drivers, and enhanced performance. We're not done yet, however - quality will continue to improve. We'll keep plugging away on application compatibility, as well as fit and finish, until RTM. If you are an ISV, RC1 is the build you should use for certifying your application.
The operating system is in great shape with RC1, but there's still a lot of testing to do. You've come through for us so far, and I'm asking you to once again put the pedal to the metal and send us feedback. Windows Vista is going to touch hundreds of millions of lives all around the world. Thanks for everything you're doing to help us give them the best experience possible."
Added 9/6/2006:
RC1 was released today. If you already have a Beta Product Key, you can get RC1 here:
http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/rc1/en/download.htm
out of 46 user reviews
just like they said...well he
Pros: much nicer looking, more efficient
Cons: will obviously consume and demand more "pc power"
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