Microsoft have finally released Windows Vista ‘Release Candidate 1′, or RC1, which is one of the final test versions before Windows Vista, the next version of Windows, is made available to business and the public.

The recent Beta 2 version disappointed many by being too unweildy and incompatible with a range of software programs and existing hardware. But after weeks of hard work, Microsoft seem to have pulled the rabbit out of the hat, with near universal praise on the Internet that Microsoft really seem to have solved a lot of the problems and that performance and compatibility is now quite remarkable - while still needing the extra work that will go into Vista with the 2nd release candidate, RC2, and then, with a range of ‘builds’ or slightly updated versions of Vista until we hit the final ‘Gold’ version which will be released to manufacturers or RTM’d.

For an excellent review of Windows Vista RC1, visit the website of Paul Thurrott, a noted expert on Windows, at www.winsupersite.com and read the review for yourself! It seems the public will again be given the opportunity to test this new version, as was the case with Beta 2. For more information on Vista from Microsoft, please visit www.microsoft.com/windowsvista.

January 2007, the scheduled release date for consumer availability, isn’t too far away, so it’s great to see some suprisingly solid progress between what was Beta 2 and the new RC1, as I’m really looking forward to this new operating system, as are many around the world. More news as we get it!  

Related: