Near-final Windows Vista version available
Microsoft on Friday made available a nearly final version of Windows Vista, the long-awaited and often-delayed successor to Windows XP.
Availability of "Windows Vista Release Candidate 1" was announced by Microsoft's Jim Allchin in a note to participants in a special Vista beta test program, according to an e-mail sent by Microsoft's public relations agency. Allchin, "Mr. Windows," is Microsoft Windows Client group vice president.
In his note, which was also posted to the Windows Vista Team blog, Allchin said there are "a lot of improvements since Beta 2," which was released in May. The changes primarily are tweaks in the user interface, more device drivers, and improved performance, Allchin wrote.
Work on Vista is not done, he added. "We'll keep plugging away on application compatibility, as well as fit and finish," he wrote. He also noted that software makers should use the RC1 release to certify their applications.
