I was expecting A LOT more from Windows Vista. But this is just a beta, so it's only 2/3 of the actual OS.

But for beta 2, it should be better.

Windows Vista does have a nice smooth visual performance, windows opens programs/folders with a nice fade and fall effect, easy on the eyes. Logon fades to the desktop, nice screen savers, big detaild icons. Also very detailed window themes.

Visuals: 4/5

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Stability

Very bad, after 5 minutes after install, Windows froze.

Program compatibility feature causes Windows to unexpectadly crash. (or random restart).

Can't leave it on over night, with out it showing up in the morning dead.

Very bad networking problems. Windows will not keep a connection to your network for long. Probably due to beta drivers, but I can't find out right now.

Stability: 1/5

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Performance

TERRIBLE!

During windows boot-up, it takes about 5 minutes to finnaly stop loading!

Programs take to long to start, or move on.

I mean really, right now my computer is loading and lagging it's guts out for no appearant reason. I just tried to switch to FrostWire to close it because my network on Windows just uexpectadley stopped working. Then my computer lagged up the ass, every thing flickered, my mouse stopped moving, windows turned white, then two minutes later I could finnaly close it. Then it did it again, windows lagged, every thing flickered.

VERY inconvinient for the typical power user.

Windows better fix this or Windows Vista is gona be a big faliure.

Because if every one has to buy 1,000 computers just to run Windows Vista with out much down time, the PC is gona die!

Every thing is just WAY too slow to suite my needs.

(my computer DOES meet the recomended requirements)

Performance: 1/5

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Security

Good, Windows Vista is full of new security features.

Such as a program lock, that blocks unknown programs from running, and notifys you about it, asking wether to allow or keep blocking the pogram.

Windows Defender, blocks most currently known mal-ware/spyware from installing on your PC.

Windows Firewall, the improved version of the older Windows XP built-in FireWall. Still not impressed with it though, but it gets the job half-way done, just like all of Microsofts security programs .

Security Center. The improved version of Windows XP's Security Center. Monitors things like, Anti-Virus programs, FireWalls, Updating, and anti-SpyWare programs.

Internet Explorer 7 , even though it says it's now VERY secure, it's just a candy coated version of IE6, with very few improvements. But it does have a built-in Phisher site detector. But still not even close to the greatness of FireFox. I say if Windows wants to be a bigger hit, junk Internet Explorer, and use FireFox, and use that as their built-in/default browser instead.

Windows has made the security more user friendly to unaware users. Which hopefully helps all those computer illiterate people out there who have no idea what a virus is.

Security: 3/5 (IE7 could be better).

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Other

This beta version is the Windows Vista "ultimate", so far I haven't found ANYTHING better than the regular, home edition, other than it comes with Windows Media Center.

I haven't used Media Center before, so this is my first review of it, so far, I like it.

WMC (Windows Media Center) is full of nice smooth effects, easy on the eyes, and easy to navigate through. It comes with easy to use programs for your multi-media needs.

WMC was targeted towards computers being used as, things like TiVo's, DVD players, etc. I'd say Microsoft did a great job on it.

Things I don't like so far, YOU CAN'T PLAY AUDIO CD's! You can't use your secondary monitor/TV while you have a regular VGA monitor attached, with out having to manually (in windows) modify your main monitor.

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Overall rating, 2/5, but this is just the beta, so it's not the official Windows Vista rating.

For users who are itching to use Windows Vista, trust me, the beta isn't worth it. Just wait until the release edition comes out (which I think is around January '07).

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Post edited at 8:45 am on Sep. 17, 2006 by mapleafan

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so basically Vista is a repeat of ME?

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Haha, idk yet, the version im using is just a beta, as i said before. But yeh, i i think visa in a 1 in 3 chance is gona be a big faliure like Windows ME.

Also, windows REALLY needs to stop using NT technology. Come on! It's over 10 years old! We need something new here!!!

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-As for performance, I'm interested to know your comptuer's specs. Minimum requirements always suck whether it's an OS or a game.

-I want to correct you on IE7. Most of IE7's changes are "under the hood" so to speak, so going by visuals alone won't get you very far. IE7 is actually a LOT better, especially in the area of following internet standards, which is making a lot of webmasters happy. I'll still pick firefox for several reasons, but IE7 isn't just a candy-coated version of IE6.

-You didn't look very hard if you can't find the difference between ultimate and home basic, or even home premium. You're correct in that Ultimate has the media center features from the home premium version, but it also includes the added security options and such from business edition.

-I agree that WMC sucks, I've always hated windows media crap. I have other programs, one of them cross-platform, that I prefer.

-It's a beta- of course it's slow. I don't know if you've ever tried writing your own code, but often optimizing for speed is the last thing you do once you make sure everything else works.

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-Try downloading RC1, since it's out now, and it's very much improved over beta 2.

-As for performance, I'm interested to know your comptuer's specs. Minimum requirements always suck whether it's an OS or a game.

-I want to correct you on IE7. Most of IE7's changes are "under the hood" so to speak, so going by visuals alone won't get you very far. IE7 is actually a LOT better, especially in the area of following internet standards, which is making a lot of webmasters happy. I'll still pick firefox for several reasons, but IE7 isn't just a candy-coated version of IE6.

-You didn't look very hard if you can't find the difference between ultimate and home basic, or even home premium. You're correct in that Ultimate has the media center features from the home premium version, but it also includes the added security options and such from business edition.

-I agree that WMC sucks, I've always hated windows media crap. I have other programs, one of them cross-platform, that I prefer.

-It's a beta- of course it's slow. I don't know if you've ever tried writing your own code, but often optimizing for speed is the last thing you do once you make sure everything else works.

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Lol, nvm, I thought I had beta 2, it's RC1, the download file name said beta 2.

Yeh, im starting to see more in Ultimate, but I think it could have a bit more if it wants to have a good name like "ultimate".

For my PC specs

AMD 64+ 3000 (clocked at 2ghz)
1gb RAM (i just recently upgraded from 512mb, same brand too)
ATI Radeon x1300 Pro AGP (256mb)
120gb IDE HD (I am going to be upgrading to SATA soon)
DVD-RW/CD-RW Optical drive.

Yet, most of the drivers are only betas.

But I don't see why you hate WMC, I mean, i haven't seen much wrong with it, I would love to see more out of it though. But it works great with my TV.

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As for the specs, yeah those should be plenty to run it. And if you're using RC1, then the speed should be better... well we'll see. And like you said, the drivers are still beta, which will make a big impact on speed, especially video drivers.

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I hate WMC for one main reason- lack of features and options that I actually use.

As for the specs, yeah those should be plenty to run it. And if you're using RC1, then the speed should be better... well we'll see. And like you said, the drivers are still beta, which will make a big impact on speed, especially video drivers.

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Lol, well actually the ATI drivers I downloaded aren't beta. Well, they said they aren't, but the rest of my drivers are.

Which the NIC drivers are kinda crappy, the original ones where shit, the would half load pages, a lot of a corrupted files, which it took me 3 times to download the  newer drivers, but i got them. Then I installed them, downloaded them again, and installed it again (just incase part of it was corrupted).

They still don't run good, like if I have a download going, and Im surfing the internet, it'll stop working.

What a pain

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In all fairness, you cant give reviews of Beta stuff.  Just tell, dont rate.  It will give others false impression.

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I mentioned it was a beta, and I said it wasn't the FINAL review, just the review of what they have done so far.

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