After the initial excitement that the latest test version of Windows Vista, known as RC1 (or release candidate 1), was by far the best test version so far, users have started reporting things they don’t like and want fixed before the final release.
Paul Thurrott’s article sums up some of the most glaring inconsistencies and issues and is definitely worth a read, especially as RC1 will be available to general consumers very shortly.
Some are calling this a ‘Beta 3′ product, rather than a true release candidate, and there is some speculation online that Microsoft will definitely be releasing a second release candidate (RC2), before going to the final ‘RTM’ or ‘release to manufacture’ version. Reports also indicate that while Microsoft may well indeed achieve the October 2006 timeframe for the ‘business’ version of Windows Vista, Microsoft will be using all of the extra time between October and January to ensure that the consumer version will be the shiniest, fastest and most bug-free version they can create.
As for the current RC1, Thurrott says Vista is still in very good shape despite the issues he encountered, especially when compared with Beta 2, and there’s still good time left for Microsoft to make the changes.
Let’s hope they take some of Paul Thurrott’s excellent suggestions to heart and implement most, if not all, of them, by year’s end!
