Microsoft releases public download of Vista

After months of limited testing, Microsoft late Wednesday made a beta version of Windows Vista publicly available for download.

The company kicked off what it called its "Customer Preview Program," a testing period in which the software maker hopes millions of tech enthusiasts will kick the tires on the new operating system.

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"Microsoft today kicked off the Windows Vista Customer Preview Program (CPP), providing the broadest access yet to pre-release test versions of Windows Vista," the company said in a statement. Microsoft is aiming to wrap up testing and development of Vista later this year in hopes of a broad launch in January. The company released Beta 2 last month to a more limited group of testers and had promised the broader test would come shortly.

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Get Vista beta and more information at Download.com

The software maker is still cautioning that Vista is not ready for the average consumer, pitching the CPP as suited for developers and tech workers, as well as hard-core enthusiasts who don't mind a few bugs and have a spare machine for testing. Microsoft also recommends those interested in the CPP run its recently released adviser tool, which helps detect how Vista-ready a PC is.

People can either download the software from Microsoft's Web site or pay a small fee to get it on DVD.

Although Microsoft is looking for millions of testers, it has said it may cap the test program at some point.

[Nicholsa202020]

Download a Disaster!

The file servers are so unreliable that a download manager is COMPULSORY!

File transfer stops every 50MB.... on CABLE!

[Nicholsa202020]

Download a Disaster!

The file servers are so unreliable that a download manager is COMPULSORY!

File transfer stops every 50MB.... on CABLE!

[CentrOS]

OMG

If the crap one needs to go through to even TRY to get the thing to
d/l, is any indication of the final product, LOOK OUT!!!

[CentrOS]

OMG

If the crap one needs to go through to even TRY to get the thing to
d/l, is any indication of the final product, LOOK OUT!!!

[ServedUp]

For Free!

Vista should be for free when its finally released.

[ServedUp]

For Free!

Vista should be for free when its finally released.

[dudegadget]

IT'S a FREE BETA DOWNLOAD OF 3.5GB

Keep that in mind before you start trashing the download process. Use the download manager. Follow the instructions. Seems like some people don't have any other job but to just trash microsoft on any story that is published here as soon as it is published here.

[Peter Bonte]

January is a no go

I'm guessing a million or more bug reports are on there way to
Mycro the next few weeks, how will they ever streamline and fix all
this information? Easy, they can't. Any january release will be just
another beta.

[Peter Bonte]

January is a no go

I'm guessing a million or more bug reports are on there way to
Mycro the next few weeks, how will they ever streamline and fix all
this information? Easy, they can't. Any january release will be just
another beta.

[darrius3365]

All these Beta Releases

What is up with all of these companies and these Beta releases.

Everything is in beta. Yahoo.com, MyNewPlace.com, AIM Instant Messenger, Windows Media Player, Windows Vista....

dang...

[darrius3365]

All these Beta Releases

What is up with all of these companies and these Beta releases.

Everything is in beta. Yahoo.com, MyNewPlace.com, AIM Instant Messenger, Windows Media Player, Windows Vista....

dang...

[Jabib]

System Reqs?

I'm a bit concerned about those system requirements. 0 out of the 4 computers in my house can get the "Premium" experience because of the video card's lack of support for Aero. Also, why does Vista need 15Gb of hard drive space?!? To me, that seems a bit on the heavy side. Windows is getting way overbloated now. I'm hoping for a shift of public opinion in favor of open source.

[Mr. Network]

My Vista review

Being a M$ Gold Partner, we have been privey to all of the beta releases. I picked up the latest release from MSDN (no download problems) and loaded it onto one of our new Dell Optiplex GX520's (Dell's current Flagship workstation) and there has been mixed feelings about the new operating system.

Some immediately complained that the interface was too different and that it looked MAC'd out. Which with some degree I would agree, however we did get lucky and they did not remove the options for classic views and themes.

Among some of the first things I noticed. It was a 9GB install. Good grief! Second, this is a version of the 'Home Edition' which will not give corporate users like myself the ability to see exactly how this will affect our customers and users.

It was very apparant how this will affect home users. Any time you attempt to change a setting or delete a file. You are endlessly bombarded with confirmation screens. My guess is this is one of Microsoft's 'security' features to prevent viruses from changing system settings. However what this will lead to (as I already see with XP SP2) is that users (even plant managers) will download or even buy applications like 'Click Yes' that will automatically hit OK when presented with an OK or Cancel option. This is because users get fed up with having to click ok everytime they leave a secured site, or other similar requests and prompts that they do not know how to shut off. This leads to many problems. The first being with users having to confirm soo many items they don't even know what they're confirming anymore. If they were prompted to install a virus, they may just go ahead and click OK.

Another problem this leads to is when they do have these 'Click Yes' programs, it can be very difficult to diagnose problems until you figure out they have one of these applications.

Other issues we noticed were some of the network options had been removed, and navigation of the new theme tended to confuse even long time users of Windows. The 'Run' command was removed from the new start menu, however it is available in classic view.

One of the features we did like was the 'compatibility mode' When we attempted to install a piece of software it said it could not run as it was incompadible and asked me if I would like to attempt to re-run setup with recommended settings. I agreed, and the software began to install. Yay! No more having to fiddle with compatibility settings.

There is still alot to be seen with the Corporate and Ultimate versions, and other than the security updates and the MAC looking interface. I have yet to see anything that might compel us to begin recommending updates to the new O/S. I will be more interested to see Microsoft's new partition imaging tool and thier strategy for doing mass rollouts. In the past we have been limited on what we could do with remote unattended installations, and being able to update these images in a timely fashion.

So far we are still un-decided on our position, but I'm sure inevitably we will begin our migration to the new system. So far though Vista gets a 5 of 10 from us.

~Mr. Network

[Ted Miller]

I CHALLENGE Microsoft

I have been reading these Blogs and several magazine articles for awhile on Vista and all I hear is Mac, Mac, Mac and more Mac for comparisions. I Challenge you Microsoft that for one time you can come up with an original idea of your own. Please don't tell me this was. I am not a Mac user but I do believe that thousands of reviewers who say it looks like a Mac cannot be lying. As long as the majority of offices use PC's I will be using one only because I need to not because I want to. Perhaps since you are copying the Mac then perhaps everyone should go uot and buy one. For crying out load FIRE the stupid copy cat idiot and come up with something better. You have the money just go and find the BRAINS.

[Ted Miller]

I CHALLENGE Microsoft

I have been reading these Blogs and several magazine articles for awhile on Vista and all I hear is Mac, Mac, Mac and more Mac for comparisions. I Challenge you Microsoft that for one time you can come up with an original idea of your own. Please don't tell me this was. I am not a Mac user but I do believe that thousands of reviewers who say it looks like a Mac cannot be lying. As long as the majority of offices use PC's I will be using one only because I need to not because I want to. Perhaps since you are copying the Mac then perhaps everyone should go uot and buy one. For crying out load FIRE the stupid copy cat idiot and come up with something better. You have the money just go and find the BRAINS.

[zxocuteboy]

Do you think vista beta 2 sucks

All of the media thinks so, check out this article on MSNBC on Vista Beta 2.

http://zxo.blogspot.com/2006/05/windows-vista-beta-2-sucks.html

[zxocuteboy]

Do you think vista beta 2 sucks

All of the media thinks so, check out this article on MSNBC on Vista Beta 2.

http://zxo.blogspot.com/2006/05/windows-vista-beta-2-sucks.html

[Get_Bent]

No thanks

I have enough "fun" beta-testing Microsoft's officially released products....

[Get_Bent]

No thanks

I have enough "fun" beta-testing Microsoft's officially released products....

[Tokimemofan]

I can't even get in at all

stupid download servers