Looking over Windows Vista

Last night, I was reviewing the various documentation for the Windows Vista beta 1 programme - release notes, readme, and setup guide. Although I am a participant in this testing programme, I haven't yet installed the beta nor downloaded it from the beta site. It's a 2.4 gig download (yes, gigs not megs) and I need to find a good chunk of dedicated time to actually get it.

But I've not yet decided whether to install and test this first beta. Mainly, I'm not sure I can dedicate my test PC for this right now because I'll need to do one of two things:

1. either install Windows Vista as the sole OS on that machine; or
2. partition the hard drive and install it in one of the partitions and so have the machine as a dual-boot machine.

Unlike Windows XP Service Pack 2 which I tested prior to its release last year, the Windows Vista beta cannot be installed as an upgrade to XP - you have to install it fresh, so to speak, what the setup guide calls a 'custom' installation (meaning a clean installation).

And, my test PC is the one on which I've just set up my Movable Type learning experiment! I really don't want to have to start over with all that installation again.

Last week, I ordered a new desktop PC from Dell - a Dimension XPS Gen 5 - on which I was expecting delivery sometime early next week. But, the order status on Dell's website now shows estimated delivery as the first week in September (due, I gather, to delays with the flat-panel monitor which are in big demand in Europe). So I won't have all the hardware I need until then.

But maybe this is a good thing. By the time September comes around, there will be lots of learning reported about Windows Vista beta 1 which will be helpful to every tester. Meanwhile, Paul Thurrott has an excellent series of reviews of beta 1.

One beta I do intend to test straightaway is the Internet Explorer 7 beta 1 standalone version for Windows XP SP2 (it also comes as part of the Vista beta). I'm curious in particular to see how the RSS integration works and see how the tabs look.

Comments

[Erik]

Hi Neville,

Still buying Dell after the 'Dell Lies. Dell Sucks' item in the blogosphere ;-)

[Nevon]

Heh! I wondered if anyone would notice...

I have to admit, Erik, such stories about Dell are in my mind. Yet I've owned Dell PCs before and have never had any issues with them.

The buying experience via Dell here in NL was excellent, so I'm very pleased so far.

But I've not had to call support for any help.

Let's see what happens when the PC is here - and the good news on that is that things speeded up dramatically and delivery is now early in the coming week.

Maybe they read this post ;)