Microsoft released the first beta version of Windows Vista on Wednesday and SuperSite for Windows has already posted a quite extensive review on the first beta version of Microsoft's new operating system.
Although the author wasn't really impressed with Longhorn build 5048 at WinHEC 2005 in April, he referred to it as "a train wreck", he now concludes Microsoft is on the right path with Windows Vista.
And when comparing this beta to the first beta version of Windows XP it should be noted Vista is much further along, he says. But he does warn end-users that there isn't much exciting to see in Windows Vista Beta 1 because it lacks all the user niceties that will come with Beta 2 within a few months.
Compared to the installation routine for Windows XP, Windows Vista Beta 1's Setup has been drastically simplified. I installed the beta in two ways on a number of different machines: As a clean install on a new partition, starting from Windows XP and as a clean install as the only OS on the machine, booting from the Setup DVD. And yes, you read that right: Windows Vista 1 Beta 1, in either x86 or x64 form, comes only on DVD. In both cases, Setup only prompts you for a few simple items and then does its thing. An upgrade install (where you upgrade from XP to Vista) does not appear to be available in Beta 1.
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