Nothing on MSDN yet. Still the same 2 builds (5231 and 5270 - Dec2005)

He didn't review it, he just showed he can copy and paste.
http://www.pcworld.com/r...cle/0,aid,124642,00.asp
http://news.yahoo.com/s/...W04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

WOW aren't you a quick one!!!! Here is a link to my photo gallery of screen shots of Vista build 5231 http://www.matrix3000k.o...thumbnails.php?album=55

But you will think I copied and pasted that as well!!! I was just posting somthing that is worth reading instead of this BS of how much microsoft rules and linux rules crap that you always read here on betanews threads. And I didn't say that it was "MY" review in the thread by the way.

Yes you did lie and said it was your review, by not divulging the source or in the least hinting the stuff was QUOTED such as.. by using quotation marks or any other separator between "your words" and that "someone else's review"...

At least if you added your own words about your own experience with Vista I would, for one, believe you actually installed Vista. At this point if I had to (at gunpoint) wager my life on the issue, I'd wager you, indeed, copied and pasted those screenshots in your gallery as well JUST LIKE YOU SAID...

Isn't it a b*tch to get caught trying to take credit for someone else's work only to find out it KILLS your credibility FOREVER from that point on...

Not that I trust what folks on the 'net say normally anyway... only when it makes perfect sense and the same info comes in from multiple directions all at the same time do I say "okay, it's probably true".

nice review of the dec ctp matrix, i cant wait for this new ctp so i can give it a try.

I have been beta testing Vista for a while now and I must say I am impressed with the operating system. Now don't get me wrong I still hate the way microsoft does business but if they keep going through Vista the way they are in the betas they might make a come back from the bashing. I have bashed microsoft for many many years about their OS's this one could change things. Im not posting here bash Microsoft like everyone in here has already saying Microsoft sucks linux is better and vice versa.

. Security, security, security: Windows XP Service Pack 2 patched a lot of holes, but Vista takes security to the next level. There are literally too many changes to list here, from the bidirectional software firewall that monitors inbound and outbound traffic to Windows Services Hardening, which prevents obscure background processes from being hijacked and changing your system. There's also full-disk encryption, which prevents thieves from accessing your data, even if they steal the PC out from under your nose. Perhaps most crucial (and least sexy) is the long-overdue User Account Protection, which invokes administrator privileges as needed, such as during driver updates or software installations. UAP makes it much more convenient for users to operate Vista with limited rights (meaning the system won't let them do certain things, like load software, without clearance from an administrator). This in turn limits the ability of malware to hose your system.

2. Internet Explorer 7: IE gets a much-needed, Firefox-inspired makeover, complete with tabbed pages and better privacy management. There's also the color-coded Address Bar that lets you know if a page is secured by a digital key, or, thanks to new antiphishing features, if it's a phony Web site just looking to steal information about you. These features will all be available for Windows XP users who download IE7. But Vista users get an important extra level of protection: IE7 on Vista will run in what Microsoft calls "protected mode"--a limited-rights mode that prevents third-party code from reaching your system. It's about darn time.

3. Righteous eye candy: For the first time, Microsoft is building high-end graphics effects into Windows. The touted Aero Glass interface features visually engaging 3D rendering, animation, and transparencies. Translucent icons, program windows, and other elements not only look cool, they add depth and context to the interface. For example, hover your cursor over minimized programs that rest on the taskbar and you'll be able to see real-time previews of what's running in each window without opening them full-screen. Now you can see what's going on behind the scenes, albeit at a cost: You need powerful graphics hardware and a robust system to manage all the effects.

4. Desktop search: Microsoft has been getting its lunch handed to it by Google and Yahoo on the desktop, but Vista could change all that. The new OS tightly integrates instant desktop search, doing away with the glacially slow and inadequate search function in XP. Powerful indexing and user-assignable metadata make searching for all kinds of data--including files, e-mails, and Web content--a lot easier. And if you're running Vista on a Windows Longhorn network, you can perform searches across the network to other PCs.

5. Better updates: Vista does away with using Internet Explorer to access Windows Update, instead utilizing a new application to handle the chore of keeping your system patched and up-to-date. The result is quicker response and a more tightly streamlined process. The update-tracking mechanism, for instance, is much quicker to display information about your installation. And now key components, such as the Windows Defender antispyware module, get their updates through this central point. Like other housekeeping features, a better Windows Update isn't a gee-whiz upgrade, but it should make it easier--and more pleasant--to keep your PC secure.

6. More media: Over the years, one of the key reasons to upgrade versions of Windows has been the free stuff Gates and Company toss into the new OS, and Vista is no exception. Windows Media Player (perhaps my least favorite application of all time) gets a welcome update that turns the once-bloated player into an effective MP3 library. The Windows Photo Gallery finally adds competent photo-library-management functionality to Windows, so you can organize photos; apply metatags, titles, and ratings; and do things like light editing and printing. The DVD Maker application, which was still very rough when I looked at it, promises to add moviemaking capabilities--along the lines of Movie Maker--to the operating system. There are even some nice new games tucked into the bundle.

7. Parental controls: Families, schools, and libraries will appreciate the tuned-up parental controls, which let you limit access in a variety of ways. Web filtering can block specific sites, screen out objectionable content by selected type, and lock out file downloads. You can also restrict each account's access by time of day or day of the week. As a dad, I can tell you this will be great for keeping kids off the PC while you're at work, for instance. You can even block access to games based on their Entertainment Software Rating Board ratings.

8. Better backups: When Windows 95 first came out, the typical hard disk was, maybe, 300MB in size. Today, desktops routinely ship with 300GB or 400GB hard drives. And yet, the built-in data-backup software in Windows has changed little in the past decade. Windows Vista boasts a much-improved backup program that should help users avoid wholesale digital meltdowns. Microsoft also tweaked the useful System Restore feature--which takes snapshots of your system state so you can recover from a nasty infection or botched software installation.

9. Peer-to-peer collaboration: The Windows Collaboration module uses peer-to-peer technology to let Vista users work together in a shared workspace. You can form ad hoc workgroups and then jointly work on documents, present applications, and pass messages. You can even post "handouts" for others to review.

10. Quick setup: Beta code alert: There are some Vista features I hope dearly for even though they haven't been built yet. This is one of them. Jim Allchin, Microsoft's co-president, says that Windows Vista boasts a re-engineered install routine, which will slash setup times from about an hour to as little as 15 minutes. Hurray! The new code wasn't in the beta version of Vista that Microsoft sent to me--my aging rig took well over an hour to set up--so I'll believe it when I see it. Still, any improvement in this area is welcome.

I can not start my bashing until the final release is out and see if Microsoft lives up to their words. We will just have to see!!!

Get my bittorrent ready :)

Why does Microsoft have so much CASH? Because its' MICROSOFT thats' worlds biggest "Phisher".Microsoft gets 50% of each thieft. Vista is better as Machines are better, yet MICROSOFT is NO Better. Also, Don't forget Validation or you be thieft. Signed:PHYSICIAN THOMAS STEWART VON DRASHEK M.D.

..............what?

I have absolutely no idea what you just said.

That's the most ignorant post I've read in my entire life... and everyone on BetaNews has certainly read a LOT of stupid posts.

Wait.

You understood that?

Care to translate for the rest of us?

I'm not entirely sure, but I think he wants us to send money to Nigeria.

Wow Doc, I think that was the most misguided post I've ever read. MS gets 50% of its profit from Phishing?! You are joking right?! For all your knowledge, it seems you lack wisdom. I fear for your patients.

I already did ;)
I'm "in the know"
That disgraced dictator's fortune should be transfered to my bank account any day now ...

Thanks for ranting about something that has nothing to do with the story.

It was enlightening. Really.

Recent press has stated that there won't be a single 'Beta 2' but that testing will be done in a number of releases, all of which comprise a beta test stage 2. This CTP is for corporates to test, so I'm guessing major Microsoft customers, or possibly MSDN subscribers will get a DVD and key. The preview I may have a chance of getting my hands on is the CPP, which anyone can sign up for on the web (along with Office 2007 beta). This won't be out before April.

http://www.microsoft-wat...c=MWRSS02129TX1K0000535

Official word strait from a MS Vista Tester Chat confirms there WILL be a beta 2.

Strange, about the Beta 2 release. PC PRO's March edition states that there won't be a Beta 2. Will this one be available to the public?

Probably not. The usual MSDN subscribers and testers.

Microsoft hasn't clarified what it means by "broader." It could very well be public, however, as officials have indicated in the past a desire to let anyone try it out. Plus, they need to get developers access to ensure applications work properly. Likely this would be through a CPP (customer preview program).

There was a lot of bad rumors circling about no Beta 2. At this point, Microsoft is saying there will be a Beta 2 in the first half of the year, but obviously things can change. IE7 Beta 2 is expected to debut in the same timeframe.

Since Microsoft says there will be a Beta 2 and Microsoft is the one who made the OS...I think I'll go with what Microsoft says :)

TMA (Too Many Acronyms).

CPP still makes me think of C++ files--more and more new acronyms are coming out that already exist. It's getting pretty confusing.

Back to topic--sort of--can you (nate) or anyone confirm that you are indeed the one and only Nate Mook of Betanews? Just wondering...

It's his Evil Twin.

I'm sure of it.

Besides, would you believe him if he said, "Uh, yeah...it's me, man."

Just sayin'.

Thanks Nate... and I completely agree about the bad rumors. Whether or not there is an official Beta 2 or whether they stick with CTP's is really irrelevant. It's all about whether they get the appropriate testing and development done by launch time.

They said there will be multiple CTP's with the branding Beta 2 targetted at different segments of the testing community.

It would be believable if he wrote an article saying that.

Look who just figured out how to format comments. =p

WEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

sweeeeeeeeeet !!!

Odd, that I'm a MSDN subscriber, but did not get a preview in December. I got a peice of paper saying if I was a "Gold Member" I would have gotten it. Oh well, I'm sure I will get some beta prior to the fall launch.