Microsoft Rolls Out New Vista and Office Betas
Microsoft Rolls Out New Vista and Office Betas
By Walaika K. Haskins
May 25, 2006 7:25AM
“I did have some issues getting the installation to run smoothly,” said Steve Kleynhans, an analyst at Gartner. “But, right now, I’m cautiously optimistic. It is glitchy and there are still things that will go wrong, but a lot of users can use it without experiencing too much hardship.”
Microsoft enthusiasts anxiously waiting for Windows Vista came one step closer to getting their hands on the software, thanks to the release this week of the second major test version of Redmond’s next-gen OS.
In addition to unveiling the Beta 2 release of Vista, Microsoft rolled out the second test version of its next office-productivity suite, Office 2007.
With the launch of the Beta 2 software, those who have signed up for Microsoft’s Customer Preview Program can begin testing the software. Microsoft expects some two million people to participate in the new round of tests.
More Polish
Steve Kleynhans, an analyst at Gartner, said that the new version of Vista has more polish than the previous beta. But he did say there are still some glitches, including screens not redrawing properly and some applications not running correctly.
“I haven’t had a chance to do significant testing, but even in the few minutes I have had, I stumbled on a few things that hadn’t worked the way that I thought they would,” Kleynhans said. “I have also found things that weren’t working in the previous beta that are now.”
Kleynhans said the big question is whether there is enough progress in the Beta 2 release for users to start relying on the software every day.
“I did have some issues getting the installation to run smoothly,” Kleynhans said. “But, right now, I’m cautiously optimistic. It is glitchy and there are still things that will go wrong, but a lot of users can use it without experiencing too much hardship.”
Still on Track?
Michael Silver, another analyst at Gartner, said that it is a good sign that Microsoft shipped the Beta 2 versions slightly ahead of schedule. At this juncture in the development process, the importance of this release cannot be understated, he said, given that there are always known bugs that need to be fixed well ahead of the formal ship date.
“Beta 2 is always a major milestone for new Microsoft products,” Silver explained. “Stable, compatible, and successful Beta 2 releases are integral to Microsoft’s ability to hit its target dates and ship Windows and Office on time.”
Silver went on to say that, for many businesses, the formal testing for Vista and Office 2007 will now begin. Enterprises should base the amount of testing by their I.T. departments on how quickly they intend to adopt Vista and Office 2007 when the final versions become available, said Silver.
Gartner released a report earlier in May that predicted it would take Microsoft up to 12 months after the release of Beta 2 to launch Vista. Silver is sticking with that prediction. In addition, he estimates that it will take businesses upwards of 18 months to make the switch to Vista.