Author Topic: Windows Vista Beta 2 - Available For Everyone (Read 2404 times)

Evi · « **on:** June 08, 2006, 09:48:07 PM »

Quote

In a surprise move, Microsoft today made Windows Vista Beta 2 available to pretty much anybody who wants it. If you\'re interested, head to the Windows Vista Web site. Make sure, however, that you check out system requirements first--they\'re also on the Windows Vista site.

The beta, available in English, German or Japanese and in both 32- and 64-bit editions, is for Windows Vista Ultimate, the most full-featured version of the OS. The code is available either as a free download of an ISO file (an image of the installation DVD that you must burn onto a blank recordable DVD), or you can get it on DVD, in which case you\'ll have to pay Microsoft for production, shipping, handling and sales tax (for me in California the total came to $10.85).

If you opt for the ISO download, be prepared to wait: The 32-bit version is a 3.5GB file, the 64-bit version takes up 4.4GB. Microsoft estimates that with a "fast" cable or DSL connection, you\'re still looking at 4.5 hours to download the 32-bit version and 5.5 hours for the 64-bit edition. Also, a Microsoft spokeswoman sent me e-mail saying demand is already so high that when you try to sign up (which involves filling out a little questionnaire) you might be asked to try again later in the day. But don\'t dawdle--Microsoft says it\'s only making the beta available in a "limited quantity," and once the unspecified magic number of orders have been received, no new ones will be accepted.

The beta is being offered under the new Windows Vista Customer Preview Program, and if you get it you\'ll also get Release Candidate 1 (RC1) when it\'s ready "later this year," Microsoft says. RC1 is basically the final version of the OS--any changes after that are supposed to be bug fixes only.

Microsoft is urging people thinking of getting the beta to install it only on test machines, and as someone who upgraded from XP to the Vista beta a couple of weeks ago, I have to second the warning. At least a couple of applications I\'d been using regularly, Adobe\'s Photoshop Elements 4 and Rhapsody, no longer work thanks to compatibility issues.

And if you do install the beta, I\'d be cautious about installing Computer Associates\' beta eTrust EZ Antivirus software for Vista: It made my PC basically unusable last week because of constant freezes and crashes. On the other hand, if you\'re upgrading from XP, you\'ll probably want to uninstall your current AV software, which could leave you vulnerable to attacks. (For the time being, I\'m counting on PC World\'s corporate defenses to keep me safe.)

LINKY LINK

It\'s a free download for those who want to try it. :toilet:

« **Reply #1 on:** June 08, 2006, 10:17:31 PM »

Good to see we\'re closer to its release. When does it officially come out, or has that not been announced yet?

To be honest, I don\'t care about a new Windows OS. I just want this to play Crysis.

« **Reply #2 on:** June 09, 2006, 12:30:17 PM »

Quote

The beta is being offered under the new Windows Vista Customer Preview Program, and if you get it you\'ll also get Release Candidate 1 (RC1) when it\'s ready "later this year," Microsoft says. RC1 is basically the final version of the OS--any changes after that are supposed to be bug fixes only.

Does that mean a free copy of vista later this year? Wait, what am I thinking... I don\'t want that anyways

Titan · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2006, 12:35:46 PM »

I\'m very content with Windows XP Media Center Edition right now. Plus I want to see how it works throughout a year or two to see what bugs there are before upgrading. I don\'t wanna download it and find out its like Windows ME or 98.

Evi · « **Reply #4 on:** June 09, 2006, 07:21:19 PM »

It\'s not going to be like Windows ME or 98...

Titan · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2006, 09:12:46 PM »

Quote from: Evi

It\'s not going to be like Windows ME or 98...

That\'s what they said about ME and 98

They made it seem stable but weren\'t. I\'m just saying. I wanna play it safe

Evi · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2006, 10:57:31 PM »

They said Windows ME won\'t be like Windows ME and Windows 98 won\'t be like Windows 98? That makes sense...

I know what you mean though.

See how it goes for the first year or so before you step into Vista waters.

Titan · « **Reply #7 on:** June 10, 2006, 01:49:02 PM »

Quote from: Evi

They said Windows ME won\'t be like Windows ME and Windows 98 won\'t be like Windows 98? That makes sense...

*another joke flys over Evi\'s head.....again* :fryingpan:

Titan · « **Reply #8 on:** June 10, 2006, 06:30:47 PM »

I was bored and looking on Wikipedia. Found a great article. It looks pretty sweet. Again, I\'m gonna wait for a bit before I decide whether to upgrade or not. I know I could stick it out until the end of college, see where I end up jobwise and decide to buy a new awesome computer with Vista on it or if they come out with another windows. Who knows. We\'ll see in a year or so.

EDIT: Shit, forgot the article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Vista

Evi · « **Reply #9 on:** June 10, 2006, 06:50:30 PM »

Quote from: Titan

*another joke flys over Evi\'s head.....again* :fryingpan:

I understood it...but it just wasn\'t funny. :shy:

Titan · « **Reply #10 on:** June 10, 2006, 08:33:24 PM »

Quote from: Evi

I understood it...but it just wasn\'t funny. :shy:

:liar:

Evi · « **Reply #11 on:** June 10, 2006, 08:39:55 PM »

Titan · « **Reply #12 on:** June 10, 2006, 08:48:04 PM »

« **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2006, 06:15:16 PM »

I installed Vista Beta2 last friday. Installation went perfectly without a bruise. It is installed on a secondary partition, so I can boot in Xp or Vista. After 1st boot was done, I had to troubleshoot 2 devices that werent properly installed. My onboard ethernet card and soundcard. I just override the Vista driver with the one on my motherboard CD-rom and both devices have been working fine since.

My computer isnt the lastest of the bomb thing but it\'s good enough to handle the whole "aero" experience at is fullest (P4 2.8HT, 1gig ram, ATI x850XT). It\'s really hard to explain, but unless you see the thing in motion you cant really say you\'ll go back to your win2k/ME feel. Windows draw and move without a glitch or blurry movement. Program and window when called arent build pieces by piece (frame, menu, button and window content) Instead they appear as if they were launched at you a ball. The start menu is really nice to. Program list do not fold/unfold anymore in long listing. Instead they are shown directly embebed in the start menu and you double click directories to go in them. Left side menu always show you "top accessed program".

Every component / program I have isntall since work. Nero, adobe reader, winamp, office, imgburn.. I cant really say if they work better or worst. however I can say that I didnt encouter any crash or bugtype thing. I do belive everything is working faster.

All in all, I really appreciate the new Windows. The gadget sidebar didnt proove much usefullness for now, but when people\'s creativity got into it, it\'ll will probably be very interesting.

Titan · « **Reply #14 on:** June 12, 2006, 06:45:49 PM »

It partitions it for you? The hard drive I mean.

Hello

Author Topic: Windows Vista Beta 2 - Available For Everyone (Read 2404 times)