Hands On with Windows Vista Beta 1
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 by Tarkus | Discussion: WinCustomize News
PC Magazine has posted their hands-on experience with Microsoft's Windows Vista, BETA 1:
After several years of waiting to see the successor to Windows XP, code-named Longhorn, we've finally gotten our hands on Beta 1 of what now will be called Windows Vista.
This version, aimed at developers and IT shops, lacks many features that the final Windows Vista, still over a year away, will have. But it has all the basic foundations of the OS and displays Microsoft's new emphasis on making a system that will be more stable and secure, as well as giving users greater clarity as regards their files. This "clear vision" is what Microsoft says is reflected in the Vista name.
The early version of Beta 1 we tested shows a focus on the basic structure of the operating system—in particular, a lot of changes to the things that users don't think about that often but that turn out to be very important. When Chris Jones, VP of the Windows Client team at Microsoft, discusses the team's goals, he talks first about efficiency and reducing the number of defects; then about increasing the "confidence" people have in their PCs (including better security); and lastly about improvements to user experiences, such as changes to the user interface.
These goals are evident in Beta 1. The device driver model has been reengineered for increased simplicity and security, so hardware that takes advantage of it should be more stable. (You'll still be able to run XP devices for compatibility, though).
Reply #2 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 2:44 PM
Reply #3 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 2:52 PM
Reply #5 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 3:16 PM
Reply #6 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 3:45 PM
I like the idea of the new search in the bottom, that will be huge in my opinion.
Also, I hope there will be a way to control the number of icons on the right side of the start menu, I thinmk that it is a little too much to have all of those.
Reply #7 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 3:46 PM
Reply #8 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 4:33 PM
Reply #9 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 5:01 PM
| Hopefully I can get in on Beta 2. |
Beta 2 is said to become public (free download) several weeks after it's been released to MSDN subscribers. (say January/ February or March 06 at the latest)
Reply #10 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 5:37 PM
Thannks,
Darth Videlous
Reply #12 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 5:54 PM
Reply #13 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 7:12 PM
| The reason I can say this, is because I am an official beta tester for microsoft. |
I'm sorry but I don't see how being an official beta tester could somehow amount to holding exclusive information on that matter while it is all over the Internet. The fact that MS wants for Beta 2 a wider target audience is a known thing. It's also been more or less officially announced that MS was planning to deliver Beta 2 to as many people as they had previously done for XP's RC - that was thru CTP - which is pretty uncommon for a beta build. It's Jim Allchin's wish to get more user feedback throughout the Beta phase than previous versions of Windows.
Are you getting your Beta 1 thru Connect?
Reply #14 Thursday, July 28, 2005 12:45 PM
Thanks,
Darth Videlous
Reply #15 Thursday, July 28, 2005 7:29 PM
Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
- Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
- Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
- Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
- It's simple, and FREE!
Reply #1 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 1:41 PM
Vista's New Look: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1840724,00.asp
Vista Slide Show: http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/0,1206,l=&s=26945&a=156757,00.asp
Internet Explorer 7: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1840714,00.asp