How close is the current Vista beta from the final release?

[TechnoPro]

From a professional standpoint, I will need to learn Vista inside and out as it eventually replaces XP as the defacto Windows OS. I have been so far reluctant to test it out in its various incarnations since it is not yet in its final form. Not that I don't mind toying around with a beta, but I simply don't have the time to get my hands dirty, so to speak, if the beta will be functionaly different from the final product?

What is the word on how close this current beta release is to the eventual RTM?

 

[CaptnKirk]

Release Candidate # 1 (RC-1) should be out late summer (August - September ?)
and should be much more functional, at least in the x86 flavor.
The 64-Bit will still be behind driver wise.

If you're on the Beta program and have ordered the CD, you should automatically get the RC-1 copy when it come out.

RC-1 should be well along the way towards the official final release program.

 

[Smilin]

It is starting to get close to final form.

It is close enough now that it's worth the effort to start learning it. The time won't be wasted by major changes.

 

[amac4me]

Microsoft says they will release it sometime in early 2007. That's unfortunate as Microsft has suffered numerous delays with this new OS.

Apple will likely have their new OS termed Leopard (version 10.5) released at the same time or perhaps even earlier.

 

[stash]

Can we get rid of the troll please?

 

[masteraleph]

Beta2, IIRC, is now "feature complete". That said, there's still a whole bunch more debugging and so on to be done. If you're currently using Beta2, please send in all errors so that MS can attempt to correct their own problems and notify others of theirs.