Microsoft has released Windows Vista Beta 1 to a select group of testers. While many of the cosmetic touches (such as the finalised colour scheme and the ability to search files by metadata) won't be available until at least Beta 2 (expected later this year) or until early 2006, we'd like to give you an inside look at the new operating system. Unless you're a software developer, we don't recommend installing this beta. But if you do plan to load it, keep in mind that you'll need a powerful computer to run the Vista code. Read our preview of this Beta 1 release.
Better views
Boasting an enhanced graphics engine, Avalon, Vista renders complex images with more detail than before, producing photo-quality wallpaper for your desktop.
Start me up
The familiar Start menu, very similar to that found in Windows XP, returns in Vista. Apart from a new overall look and feel, Vista's real changes are inside the operating system: 64-bit addressable memory, searchable file metadata and improved graphics capabilities.
New accounting principles
Like XP, Vista allows multiple users of a single system to have individual accounts. Users can create or change their own passwords and decide whether to share files with others.
Enhancing security
An important security change within Vista will be a shift away from the Adminstrator as default. Every user will need to create an account, and those needing Administrator access will need to log in separately. Currently, the default user is Administrator, and this has allowed criminal hackers to attempt to take remote control of Windows XP machines.
A handier toolbox
The new control panel groups familiar tools for easier access. Vista uses a Web-like directory structure, with the main category in bold, and the individual tools listed below. Note how much more detail about each task is available in this updated view.
Familiar desktop environment
f you long for familiar screens, such as those of Windows XP, they're still there within Vista. Here's the 'classic' Control Panel.
Enhanced My Computer screen
The improved graphics capabilities shine in the My Computer screen, with brightly coloured graphs and graphics to illustrate the current state of your system.
New Internet Explorer 7 for Windows Vista
Although Microsoft bowed to market pressure and is releasing a version of Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP SP2, IE 7 for Vista remains one of the key selling points for this new operating system.
Enhanced My Pictures screen
Vista's new graphics engine, Avalon, allows detailed thumbnail views of all media files, eliminating the need to guess.
Sort your music
New search capabilities built into Vista make it easy to group and index your music files.
Search within files
Embedded within Vista is an integrated desktop search. You're not limited to just filename and file type; Vista will allow you to search for a variety of criteria, such as the bit depth and camera model information supplied by your digital camera.
Change your mind at any time
Windows Vista makes it easy to associate keywords, authors and ratings on the fly to almost any file. Every time you open a new file, save it to disk or even drag and drop it into a new folder, you have the opportunity to change the metadata. Metadata is important to Windows search, allowing you to find and access files that might otherwise become lost on your hard drive.
New paradigm for files
Although Windows Vista won't include the much-touted Windows File Structure (WinFS), it will still allow you to think outside the box. With Windows Vista, you'll be able to organise files into virtual stacks -- based on author, keywords or ratings -- without physically moving the files on your hard drive. For those of us who still remember DOS, this will take some getting used to, but for those who embrace this new concept, the possibilities become endless.
See what you delete
Thumbnail images aren't limited to graphics. Here, files marked for deletion are clearly visible, reducing the chance you'll make a mistake and delete the wrong file.
Talkback
looks crap
Looks very much like some Linux distro's available on the market in my opinion.
its the same old windows, so disappointing, i was really expecting to see new stuff. what's up with microsoft... if you don't renew you'll die they should know that! every computer out there has 3d capabilities so why not a 3d desktop? how cool would that be...
Same old same old :-( Looks like Windows XP with some of the features of KDE, Gnome and Mac OS X thrown in on top.
When I saw the mini-pictures on the icons of image files, my first thought was, but it already does that. Then I remembered, it's my Linux desktop that does that.
The sorting of control panel items into groups, erm, doesn't XP do that? YaST does it as well, so what's new there? I use the classic view any way.
"Photo-Quality" desktop wallpapers? Don't you get that if you stick a photograph as the desktop wallpaper? I know I can choose photo's as a background for XP (I don't it slows everything down) and Linux.
The new start menu looks like they've nicked the best bits of the KDE equivalent, with putting a list of regularly used programs on the left (KDE puts them at the top).
User accounts, wow, erm, yes, erm, like NT4 then? If normal software and games will work on a non-administrator account like a real-operating system, then I'll be impressed, otherwise nothing new to see here, move along.
Making the users non-administrators by default is a start, question is, will our software work with this scheme? My AV software won't update itself or scan unless the user is an administrator, making it pretty useless. The Linux equivalent runs in its own process which has the rights it needs and the user can't mess with it...
The new my computer looks like a tarted up version of the KDE equivalent - although as you don't have drive letters or access the drives directly, the bars for the physical devices are layed out slightly differently.
IE7 - well as IE 7 doesn't support the open standards and is very insecure, it is restricted to only accessing the Windows and Office Update services, so not really a big selling point here.
As I keep most of my documents and images well indexed and structured, I rarely need to search my desktop, 99% of my searches are for DLL's which either shouldn't be there or are corrupted and need replacing, so searching on bit-depth wouldn't be something I'd need, so nothing really worthwhile there - haven't bothered with any of the existing desktop search tools either.
The re-organising the files into categories without moving them sounds more like a new way to use shortcuts or links to the files - maybe not stored as shortcuts, but as links in some sort of database to speed it up? Whatever, sounds like polish on an existing feature.
Thumbnails of deleted files? Hmm, just like KDE you mean?
There might be some nice features there, and for Windows users, maybe some nice changes. For those of us fed up with the problems that Windows causes and have moved on, the gallery doesn't show anything that isn't unavailable elsewhere, so probably not something that is going to tempt us back.
Nice try Microsoft, but if you want to win customers back, you'll need to include innovative idea's not just cut and paste existing ones from the competition.
Linux users point of view....358 million Windows users = idiots(or they're forced by Microsoft). Learn to leave reviews not, "Same old Windows...", Are you smoking crack?!?! Learn that other software companies have been using translucent buttons and menus for a long time now. Microsoft's new desktop is MEGA customizable now! New security features to prevent socially challenged people from making spyware and virii against it. Stop crying that Microsoft finally made a great OS by bashing it without even using it, retards!
IT'S BETA 1 GUYS COMEON! WTF IDIOT COMMENTS ARE YOU DOING HERE???
"Looks like Windows XP with some of the feat... "
LOOK'S LIKE, LOOK'S LIKE... IT'S BETA, IT'S NOT DONE. IT'S FOR DEVELOPERS NOT KIDS WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN MAKE STOLID COMMENTS.
I can't see a single feature touted there that makes me think it'll be a life-changing upgrade. Not one. The only thing that'll make me upgrade will be when MS strong-arm people into upgrading by ditching XP support - and by then, Google Linux will probably be the number one OS on the planet.
That Green Look is an exact Copy of Suse Linux 9.x releases and so does the control panel -looks getting closer to Yast !!!
But still we cannot ignore the fact that we shall now NEED-MORE RAM, MORE VIDEO MEMORY AND MORE HARD DISK SPACE - its all a corporate tie up to make us buy new Computer HArdware all the time ----- and unfortunately we do it !!!
It looks very clear and precise to me and thank goodness the security is going to be tightened up somewhat, I like the idea of the files being shown before you delete them too, that little extra can save many hours of heartache.
Well I for one am really looking forward to the new operating system.
Looks just like Windows XP, cant wait until the final version comes out to see if the UI is going to be different. Heres to hope!
No respite from Windows look and feel... old wine, new bottle...
why don't they re-christen it as XP2
Why aren't these TalkBacks moderated?? I would prefer to hear valid comments from those that know what they're saying and preferably used the Beta 1, not silly comments from stupid people. Reading comments of how "it looks the same as XP" when the new GUI features aren't being paraded is a complete waste of my time. Please refrain from posting rubbish or ZDNET please add a little editorial worth to this TalkBack feature.
New skin, few new features and that's it... I should be amazed with new looks of control panel??? WOW i truely am!
Thing is that Windows have, are and will miss all the small things that make computer work interesting, like 15 peaces and stuff, and most of all windows need to open their mind to other things than microsoft products.
i cant beleive how ms is still f-ing with the whole world usin same f-ing windows. un-f-ing-beleivable. biggest organized scam it seems as they keep pretendin to be so lazy n takin decades to give a proper full version. sad how we are trapped.
Most people are saying that Windows Vista looks crap and just like XP....
I happen to think that it looks way better than XP currently does and I cannot wait to get it and try it out....
The new look and freatures look really cool....keep it up microsoft =)
How about pioneering the use of avatars in the workplace with Vista? Its a paradigm shift, but seems like the next logical step in becoming more user-intuitive.
I work on MacOSX and Linux. Currently MS cert. No new or amazing things on Vista. Just a pretty face...
MacOSX can do even much better tied down. No way it can be even close.
WinXP - Admin user no default. Already in MacOSX root disabled and no default.
WinXP looks. Are you trying to look like MacOSX metallic brushed finish?
IE7 - Blah Blah Blah... vs Safari, Firefox, Opera..
For a tech article it should get some more inside innerworkings stuff...
MacOSX- Linux got all now... Win XP just a beta and long more to go.. When it comes out, yeah you pay $$$ for the same old stuff. Crashes, Virus, Spyware...Thin air.
Looks a lot like a KDE desktop on Linux, and IE7 seems like a FireFox clone! LMAO!
I am a windows user and I have always been. I hear of how other OSs are great, but still stick to windows mainly cos I am not all that technical.
At the end of the day I am likely to stick to Windows and from what I can see there isn't anything that strikes out with Vista, it might as well be called "the SP3 update". At the end of the day, I'll probably end up using Vista in the coming years. So much for innovation.
I personally think Windows is so big they cant afford to take risks with innovating. So they simply copy a whole bunch of OSs to keep us up to date. I dont blame them.
The first Windows release copying Linux, very original. ;-))
Taking this long to put more bugs into the OS, so they can justify future updates and reliance/support
Microsoft could make me a female Android whit more sex appeal then the National Rumba team of Brazil, and I would still hate them.
"Bill and Steve should die of gonorrhea and rot in hell." :)
I use windows xp at work and I must say I love the new design. All glassy and new.
I consider myself a computer professional after using word for over 2 years now and I don't understand why everybody hates Microsoft so mutch. I love there products. And I can't wait to try out the new solitair game. 3D and all. This is groundbreaking stuff here guys and you just don't see it. Ranting on about your "bugs" and your "secure networking". You should all be gratefull and bow down to the force that is Microsoft. Soon the cildren of the earth will submitt their will to us.
That's my 2 cents.
Lisa
Why is everything thinking that Microsoft is out to get them? All I ever hear is Linux this and Linux that. It may have some advantages over Windows, but who cares?! I don't fancy installing Linux Version #239018231 and spend a week getting my computer working. I've used Windows for years and I've had very little problems. If any of you tried to program such a HUGE O/S you would have some bugs in it. Its normal. EVERY software program has bugs. At least MS release updates to iron out these bugs that arise from time to time.
Stop winging and take off that Red Hat!
dole chex 2 rolex fool
How many years behing the mac is it now? Mac OS X tiger has had all those 'new' features for years now.
Worrying so much about it looks like this or does not work like that just exposes your lack of professional knowledge and brands you as a complete moron.
There are different OS for different tastes. After trying a few Linux flavors (talk about non-standard skin-centric OS) and Mac from version 5 right through X, I find strengths and weaknesses in all of them. I turn to my Windows 2000 box to get some real work done. I don't sit there and stare at my desktop and it's beauty. It's all about user preference and you haters obviously are not sure about your own choices. Windows rocks and so does Linux, and so does Mac and blah blah blah. Get a life.
Half the people just want to support anything non microsoft. It may not be valid, but thats the trend. Regardless of whether people know abt the OS, just see how many people use it.
I'm so fed up with XP crashing, I'm thinking of getting a Mac. Vista doesn't appear to be anything new, just a few new touch ups. It'll still crash I'm sure.
geeks just automatically slag microsoft off, its just so uncool, get over it
If your XP is constantly crashing i would suggest you look at your hardware setup.
Windows XP has been a welcome relief since day one of my installation from Win 98.
I have not had any problems with XP and can only put this down to my hardware being more than compatible.
Looks like a tramp ready to host some cylinders.
A pretty girl fishing for dirty old mans.That's
how it looks.
Come on guys is the lamest piece of work.
What is that all makeup?Microsoft is using the
old candy eye trick
Really, all you MS-bashers, have you even ever used Vista? Obviously not - "It's the same old XP..." Clearly you've never seen the awesome UI with glass effects and the enormous icons.
As for security, it's true that Linux and OS X had beaten Windows up till now, but don't you think it's a GOOD thing that Windows' security is getting better?
Will all you completely biased, uninformed MS bashers please shut up?
After seeing Windows Vista, I think Microsoft
should buy the www.xxx.com domain.
Microsoft tend to copy ideas from their competition. Take the 'Spotlight' search bar underneath the Start Menu -- this is clearly a new idea brought in by Apple with OS X Tiger. I'm currently running Windows XP Home Edition on my Desktop PC and Mac OS X Tiger on my newly purchased PowerBook G4. When I upgrade my Desktop PC, it definately will NOT be with another PC especially running Windows Vista.
Windows Vista running on par with Linux and OS X? I extremely, very much, doubt this.
Windows vista gives me erections of the sterdiest kind
Boring Boring Boring. If Micro@@ does not get their act together linux will surpass it.
Universal boot cd starts up and show that my Pc can run at double of what windows will ever be able too.
Linux run's at 100% and yes the drivers for linux is easier than Xp Pro 64 drivers and less troublesome.
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