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By Ina Fried, News.com
Posted on ZDNet News: Jul 26, 2005 4:58:00 PM

Microsoft plans to release a test version of the next version of Windows on Wednesday morning, according to a source familiar with the company's plans.

The Beta 1 version of Windows Vista isn't expected to have the look and feel of the final operating system. However, it is expected to reflect key changes that Microsoft is making under the hood of its flagship operating system. The test version is expected to be limited, at least initially, to developers and technical audiences.

Microsoft said on Friday that it was renaming the operating system, which had been known for years only by its code name, Longhorn. The company also promised that a long-anticipated beta version would ship by Aug. 3.

Windows enthusiast site WinBeta reported earlier Tuesday that the Beta 1 version was expected to come out on Wednesday.

A more feature-complete test version is expected to arrive by early next year, as Microsoft aims to have the final release of Windows Vista available in time to be on PCs that ship during next year's holiday shopping season.

Vista has changed significantly since Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates first showed an early version of the then-Longhorn in October 2003. The company has changed the way it is implementing a new Web services architecture, known as Indigo, and a new graphics engine, dubbed Avalon. It has also delayed a new file system, known as WinFS, that had been slated to be part of the OS.

Among the more visible changes in the OS are a new means of searching for files, as well as virtual folders that contain all of the documents that match a specific criteria, such as "edited in the last week" or "created by Mary."

The company is also working on business-oriented changes, such as making it easier to set up and manage a stable of Windows Vista-based PCs.

Also planned are improved home networking, stricter parental controls and a host of new laptop-related features, though not all of these changes may be visible in the test version due out Wednesday

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Certainly
I agree totally, and have ever since the separation of MS from OS/2. The new verification plug-in only fuels my desire for a comprehensive OS that reads my computer (unp&p., whatever), discovers ... (Read the rest)
Posted by: paul@... Posted on: 08/03/05 You are currently: Logged In | Log out
Big deal! FreeBSD   | 07/26/05
Big day for me tomorrow... Mike Cox   | 07/26/05
You owe me a keyboard! crash89   | 07/26/05
I just have to ask Loverock Davidson   | 07/26/05
Agreed tic swayback   | 07/26/05
Acronym Yagotta B. Kidding   | 07/26/05
Excellent! Linux User 147560   | 07/27/05
No Way! osreinstall   | 07/27/05
Virally Infected Software to Acquire bystander_z   | 07/26/05
0.01 due to Inanity PMC-CON   | 07/26/05
Mike is special. Anton Philidor   | 07/26/05
True depth of feeling Anton Philidor   | 07/26/05
Only one hand? Where's the other one? HypnoToad   | 07/26/05
Between two pillows.... (NT) widge_z   | 07/27/05
You're Getting Chemically Castrated? itanalyst   | 07/26/05
Ask your Rep.... apathy86   | 07/26/05
(nt)Because virus writers don't target 98 any more toadlife   | 07/26/05
Actually it's because lengua99   | 07/27/05
Ha! bill@...   | 07/26/05
(nt)9.5! toadlife   | 07/26/05
9.9 in my books. I bursted out laughing... ju1ce   | 07/26/05
MCSE fired ?? mario.bruyninckx@...   | 07/27/05
Bozo bgrube@...   | 07/27/05
Heh... another newly arrived rube falls for Mike's satire. (NT) John E Wahd   | 07/27/05
RE: Heh... another newly arrived rube falls for Mike's satire. (NT) nightshade0143   | 07/27/05
OK... understood mario.bruyninckx@...   | 07/27/05
where's the rest of the apology? Dave P.   | 08/02/05
10.0 for LOL Satire & Successful NOOB Baiting (nt) tbbrickster_z   | 07/27/05
Glad to see they finaly got their copy of Tiger in the mail! crash89   | 07/26/05
What is wrong with that? Loverock Davidson   | 07/26/05
I hate to admit it but... TheCrow_z   | 07/26/05
Very true.. but.. it's still fun to mock them Airwolph   | 07/26/05
Don't pay attention... theraven_z   | 07/26/05
Root of Bitterness schneb   | 07/26/05
Nothing wrong with that. crash89   | 07/26/05
Of course lengua99   | 07/27/05
Yeah, Maybe they can introduce those same security holes Apple did ... (nt) PMC-CON   | 07/26/05
Innovation Yagotta B. Kidding   | 07/26/05
KDE is Open Source son... theraven_z   | 07/26/05
Some people just don't appreciate sarcasm, do they gardoglee   | 07/26/05
Thanks for pointing this out tic swayback   | 07/26/05
KDE is GPL son... Michael Kelly   | 07/26/05
GPL 3D0G   | 07/27/05
So how do Linux User 147560   | 07/27/05
LOL! gamerzworld   | 07/26/05
Source: Beta of Windows Vista due Wednesday Loverock Davidson   | 07/26/05
Feel good post of the summer tic swayback   | 07/26/05
Yes (NT) Loverock Davidson   | 07/26/05
8.6 . . . Sorry, Mike's was better. (nt) Bit's_Conscience   | 07/26/05
Huh? (NT) Loverock Davidson   | 07/26/05
Of course it sucks Michael Kelly   | 07/26/05
I'm not pro MS and I'm interested maldain   | 07/27/05
I wait with bated breath Chad_z   | 07/26/05
LongShot By AnyOther Name RobertoSalazar   | 07/26/05
And how would you know...... Crestview   | 07/26/05
Vista horace.smith@...   | 07/26/05
MCSE = Must Consult Someone Experienced unix.dude   | 07/26/05
Who cares... theraven_z   | 07/26/05
no, its... linuxoverwindows   | 07/26/05
Consoles? Usability? unix.dude   | 07/26/05
No, MCSE = Mike Cox Suckup Engineer itanalyst   | 07/26/05
Great News! grincity2003   | 07/27/05
Everyones TCP/IP code came from BSD toadlife   | 07/26/05
So, one has to wonder ... unix.dude   | 07/26/05
Your install is lousy, but mine is good! osreinstall   | 07/26/05
Absolutely lengua99   | 07/27/05
Oh, but there are more! toadlife   | 07/26/05
More like... LinuxHippie   | 07/26/05
Kernel from VMS Richard Flude   | 07/27/05
And the point is ... ? Yagotta B. Kidding   | 07/26/05
developers son... theraven_z   | 07/26/05
Yabbut Yagotta B. Kidding   | 07/26/05
Hmm rapson   | 07/27/05
Driver developers Michael Kelly   | 07/27/05
Preview of the latest bait'n'switch, eh? HypnoToad   | 07/26/05
and here is the clip... linuxoverwindows   | 07/26/05
Simple DarthRidiculous   | 07/26/05
The proof is in the pudding - I_am_hellion_z   | 07/26/05
wait a second... linuxoverwindows   | 07/26/05
hahahaha did you read the article hahahaha An_Axe_to_Grind   | 07/26/05
Windows hriik   | 07/26/05
And Apple OS does not have bugs. LOL alec34us   | 07/26/05
I'm alright with... TheCrow_z   | 07/26/05
no An_Axe_to_Grind   | 07/26/05
I'm so sorry Crestview   | 07/26/05
Microsoft is the plague of the age get outa my way oo7curtis   | 07/26/05
Most Orgs Are Still On 2000 And Just Now Moving To XP itanalyst   | 07/26/05
It's not what I want to see IN windows... BitTwiddler   | 07/26/05
Won't Happen itanalyst   | 07/26/05
Same thing happened with IE DarthRidiculous   | 07/26/05
Then you will ever be disapointed! An_Axe_to_Grind   | 07/26/05
Yup, samething everyone has said about every OS. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/26/05
Security sells a lot of product for Microsoft. Anton Philidor   | 07/27/05
Sick of digging RUlistening   | 07/26/05
What a load of B.S. Vista schmista..... kelliman   | 07/26/05
They should get current versions right first JellA_z   | 07/26/05
New Windows Vista Ed_Lassota   | 07/26/05
same cardinal33   | 07/26/05
Some Really Great Ideas Might Be DaffyDuck   | 07/26/05
Hmmm, apparently the open source folks care a lot. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/26/05
I care because it's amusing Sabz5150   | 07/26/05
(nt)What features might those be? toadlife   | 07/26/05
To name a few Sabz5150   | 07/26/05
You forgot some Loverock Davidson   | 07/27/05
Darn, I never get those. Sabz5150   | 07/27/05
I did a couple of times Linux User 147560   | 07/27/05
Excellent! Linux User 147560   | 07/27/05
We Coule Care LEss About Vista itanalyst   | 07/27/05
We Could Care More About Vista PhoenixStorm26   | 07/27/05
It's relative maldain   | 07/27/05
Easier to criticize... Anton Philidor   | 07/27/05
Riight... Sabz5150   | 07/27/05
You seem to be missing the Linux User 147560   | 07/27/05
vista requested features darkstar57   | 07/26/05
Sorry, Washington State Power Grid couldn't support it. Bit's_Conscience   | 07/26/05
Microsoft Rebates algeo37   | 07/26/05
yep! gamerzworld   | 07/26/05
And the heart of the story is.... Xbeing   | 07/26/05
How does it help me? wresnick   | 07/26/05
Vista What we all need edwinblaw   | 07/26/05
Apple has a few problems as well. trm1945   | 07/26/05
How about some technical questions rather than flames? Michael Kelly   | 07/26/05
RE Bill's Gonads Aaron A Baker   | 07/27/05
Windows Name change cclarkkent   | 07/27/05
I can't wait !! haxmeister   | 07/27/05
Windows Vista Beta effrazier   | 07/27/05
Time for the Linux "Taliban" to chime in LeeW274   | 07/27/05
And the Linux/Unix Fans Speak (yet again) PhoenixStorm26   | 07/27/05
Here we go again Richie_z   | 07/27/05
os 's denden_z   | 07/27/05
Gates latest OS zlftcav   | 07/27/05
What should be in the new Windows? Less. mvsarno@...   | 07/27/05
Certainly paul@...   | 08/03/05
I wont an operating system charlielacy   | 07/27/05
VISTA? ALTA VISTA? BAJA VISTA? optimister   | 07/28/05
Vista new gadget what about the essential sylmor   | 07/28/05

What do you think?

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