Windows Vista RC1 Now Available for Everyone

Daily Tech ^ | September 6, 2006 | Brandon Hill

[Echo Talon]

Get Vista RC1 while you can

Microsoft released Windows Vista RC1 to testers last week and today it has opened the doors to anyone that wants to take a test drive. The download weighs in at around 2.6GB for the 32-bit version and 3.7GB for the 64-bit version. Everyone should hop on and get the download as quickly as possible – Microsoft could pull the plug at any time. You can register to get a product key from the following link.

You can try out Vista RC1 for free until June 1, 2007. After that, you’ll have to pony up for one of four versions of Vistas (full/upgrade):

* Windows Vista Home Basic, $199/$99.95
* Windows Vista Home Premium, $239/$159
* Windows Vista Business, $299/$199
* Windows Vista Ultimate, $399/$259

For those of you who run into software incompatibilities and driver issues during testing, be sure to contact your software vendor/hardware manufacturer so that are made aware.

Go to the Dailytech link to download

[dubie]

what was the problem? I use XP over Vista also only because ATI doesn't have drivers/software for my All-In-Wonder Video card... they have the video driver but no TV support in vista it seems... I didnt have any problems with it though other than that... maybe you need a new computer, Vista does have higher hardware requirements than Vista does... Also, did you check the MD5SUM of the ISO file that you downloaded and then burn it at 1-2x? Dont blame MS for a subpar download/burn on your part.

No, the download and burn was fine. All my complaints are around the OS itself and the drastic changes. The once simple right clicks are different, there are too many "are you sure" prompts, the whole look and feel is awful, (I did try classic view as well). As an Information Systems Engineer who is Microsoft certified, I find that OS to be a big piece of bloated crap. The start menu, the new IE... Yeah, I can see all of my 300 users making a seamless transition to Vista with zero questions because at the very least some things are the same (YEAH RIGHT). This OS will not make it easy on IT professionals. I predict we will be an XP shop for a long time to come and this OS will be a big flop for MS. I admit I put it on an IBM T21 and knew I may have driver issues (for network card) but my whole goal in installing the RC1 was to see the OS, to get familiar with it, to see what it was about... I did that and I hated every bit of it. That is just me... Might I use it at home? Maybe that day will come but not in the corp environment... no way...

[Vision]

What is Vista supposed to do better than XP?

[Echo Talon]

OMG, I have a T21 and it wont even run winXP reliably, its needs more ram(only holds 512)... cueerenly only has 256mb

It has PCLinuxOS on it and works great... give that a shot ;)

[Echo Talon]

What is Vista supposed to do better than XP?

It will support over 4GB of ram, it will support multi processors/sockets, more secure, its over all a better OS just like XP it may need a little time in the spotlight to shine. I'd like to see Apple get OS X to work with as much hardware as XP/Vista can.

[Vision]

I'm about to buy a new computer, probably made to order off tigerdirect. I need as much processing power as possible.

I'm going to get the highest processor, but I have options for ram all the way to 3g. Do you have any idea what difference 1g,2g, and 3g will have? Better multitasking?

[Echo Talon]

GET the CORE 2 DUO for processor... IF you want to look at some reviews look at anandtech.com and hardocp.com both have reviews of computers

hardocp.com actually had a review the other day of a core2duo computer here is the review

the Intel E6600 Core2Duo is a good one to get, or the E6700.

the Core2Duo C2D Extreme is kind of expensive.

As far a Ram goes get that you can afford, i'd suggest at least 2GB though.. for a new PC...

[Echo Talon]

abs.com

and

monarchcomputer.com

both sell core2duo systems.. with monarch you can make sure the system is linux compatible(if thats what your looking for)

[dubie]

yeah, I just downloaded ubuntu... I have used redhat, suse, and fedora... I go in and out of a linux phase... I get excited, install and use linux but then need an old faithful program and go back to windows...

[Vision]

I'm looking at the AMD Athlon 64 X2 AM2 4800+ Processor

What is dual core? Are 64 bit machines better and do they have drawbacks?

[Echo Talon]

get the Intel Core 2 Duo its Faster than Anything AMD has, im NOT an Intel fanboy by any means, the last Intel system i built was a PIII 500MHZ! LOL that was a few years ago... LOL

My current computer is an Athlon64 3500+ but if i were to get a new one it would be a Core2Duo way better than Athlon X2...

[freedumb2003]

Since you seem to be computer savvy, would you happen to know if there is a color-code in html for transparent or clear?

Yes, it is here: hehehehehe. OK, it isn't clear but it will work.

[Echo Talon]

What is dual core? Are 64 bit machines better and do they have drawbacks?

the Intel Core2Dou and AMD Athlon X2 are both dual-core processors(2 processors in 1) and they are both 64bit capable, the core2duo is newer technology and is faster than the X2

[js1138]

What is dual core? Are 64 bit machines better and do they have drawbacks?

Most chips now, even the low end ones, are 64 bit. There are no drawbacks.

On the plus side, they are immune to many viruses simply because they will not execute misplaced code. This feature is independent of virus scanners.

[Echo Talon]

opps, the last Intel system i built was a PIII 800eb(forgot about one) :)

[Echo Talon]

OMG look at this cooler!

scroll down a little bit!!! LOL

[Echo Talon]

i think this is the heatsink anand is using

here

[js1138]

All my applications put a premium on reliability. Overclocking isn't my bag. I'm more into ECC memory and RAID 5 with hotswap drives.

[Loud Mime]

I installed XP-64. The computer loved it, everything worked well except for the non MS programs. The media player didn't work well either. OH, and I had problems with my CD DVD writing software.....

other than that it was wonderful.

I'm back to XP Pro.

[Vision]

Thanks

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10442_7-6389077-1.html

[Echo Talon]

that is an OLD article that is a comparison of the Athlon X2 and Core Dou(NOT the new Core 2 Dou)

look at the date of that article

November 23, 2005