The first testers managing to download Windows Vista 2 bits are reporting in. They say it's not all smooth sailing, and are encountering everything from driver and app compatibility problems, to red-hot laptops.
SEATTLE – A day after Microsoft announced availability of Windows Vista Beta 2, the first testers are overcoming download bottlenecks and obtaining bits. While many are finding the latest build to be more stable and better performing, they also are still hitting driver and application compatibility issues, among other system problems.
Microsoft announced on May 23 that it was making Vista Beta 2, Longhorn Server Beta 2 and Office 2007 Beta 2 available to testers immediately. Microsoft is making Vista available to its existing beta testing community first, by providing attendees of the Windows Hardware Engineering (WinHEC) conference here with DVD versions of the new test builds on May 24, and allowing other TechNet, Connect and Microsoft Developer Network subscribers to download the bits this week. Microsoft is planning to broaden the Beta 2 pools in the next few weeks, allowing up to two million testers to get their hands on the Vista test code.