Video of Microsoft’s Windows Vista beta 2 release in action

CNET has a video online that shows Microsoft’s Windows Vista beta 2 release, including Widgets, er… “Gadgets,” Spotlight, er… “Search,” Exposé, er… “some sort of Aqua, er… Aero Glass ‘parade’ effect, annoying, intrusive, and constantly-in-your-face “User Account Protection” dialog boxes, and how Microsoft has automated the task of finding a device driver on a Windows Vista system. Be still our hearts.

See Microsoft’s Windows Vista beta 2 release in action here.

MacDailyNews Take: What we can’t figure out is why it’s taking Microsoft so long to ship this unimpressive warmed-over version of Windows XP. They’re probably waiting to see what’s revealed at WWDC like the rest of us.

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97 Comments

  1. If 6-year old XP, with all its security problems, still gets a 90% share of all new computers sold today, then you MUST understand that Vista will be regarded by Joe Windows Sufferer as the greatest thing since slice bread. Apple better sell all the hardware it can over the next 12 months because its going to get ugly after that.

    Vista. Because you don’t know any better, and you wouldn’t care it you did.

  2. In unrelated news, Microsoft announced that it will begin testing its new “hypervisor” virtualization software by the end of the year. Let’s see if the rumors that OS X Leopard will include a hypervisor pan out at WWDC. This story caught my eye because the code name for Microsoft’s virtualization tools is “Viridian”. I sincerely hope that no one here will accuse me of working to further Redmond’s cause. Maybe I should sue. Anybody have the phone numbers of the sharks who included Jason Tomczak in the iPod nano class action against his wishes? I’d like to sic them on Gates and Ballmer just for the hell of it.

  3. it does make me sick when you see the blatent copying that micosoft continues to take from apple.

    the interface ques, the widgets, the search concepts.

    the only thing is that apple will continue to innovate and microsoft will continue to copy.

    people are going to get so sick of being interupted by all those pop ups to verify access that people are going to turn them off. and again well see the viruses infiltrate the system.

    And if its so secure, why do microsoft need to have a proprietary subscription-based security software implemented to protect their own customers?

  4. Man, that’s hilarious. With everything that popped up, all I could think was, ‘Hey, I’ve had that in OSX for ages, where it’s done better. Huh.’

    Seriously, I cannot think of anything at this time that would make me consider using a Windows PC again.

  5. The fact is that VIsta will catch MS up to Apple, or get close to it. Mainstream consumers will eat it up, and if MS can get the viruses under control, then the OS war will be essentially over, and MS will have won. That’s why it is super important right now for Apple to gain as much marketshare as they can over this Christmas.

  6. sorry macwizards, but windows owenrs are going to see vista and say “wow!” and (who needs and apple).

    leopard needs to leapfrog way, way, way ahead if it is going to bring windows users over to the mac (and keep current mac owners from defecting to new vista.)

  7. how many times did the cnet reporter say “cool”…?
    not good news for apple.
    snipe all you want, but the average window´s person is going to be impressed with apple-like eye candy. wonder how many new iLife-type apps microsoft has been secretly working on that they will include?

  8. When I show Windows users OS X Widgets, the response I get from some is, “…Oh I’ve heard VISTA will be able to do that…”. The implication being that they’ll just wait for Windows to do it and then everything will be ok again.

    Poor folks.

  9. Remember, if you want all of the Vista goodies (I can’t believe I said Vista & Goodies in the same sentence) You have to buy an expensive computer.

    A $300 Dell will not do Vista justice.

    Those cheap, Windows buying bastards will not like Vista Lite.

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