Windows Vista RC1 is for real now.
 

The long waited, Microsoft Windows Vista RC1 is available for download now. If you have registered in June to receive free activation code you can use it now, check your emails. If not check MS site for future info for getting one.

Download LINK.

Customer Preview Program LINK

Sassan what is Vista.

Follow Sassan's link but opening marketing speech goes like this:-

Clear now - No, nor me!

I am currently downloading the file up to now its 163 mb and still going, I think its the new windows front end, I don't think I will load it until all the bugs have been ironed out.

Microsoft's latest exciting collection of bugs. :) It's the next Microsoft version of the Windows OS. You have backed up your data haven't you? All of it? :)

The chances are that it will require more memory and hence applications will run more slowly on your PC. Win XP was a huge improvement on 2K though.

Thanks Leif I decided to cancel the download for now, and wait to see what people think of the new version before I mess things up..

The story is so far that it's so full of holes and bugs they'll be lucky to have it ready before Christmas 2007. It's total bloat ware, it's so big it won't even fit onto a CD anymore, it's on a DVD, just imagine what that lot's going to do to your all singing and dancing computer. It looks pretty but looks aren't everything! Stick to to Win XP for the next 18 months at least, let it settle down, if you really want to make Windows look pretty there's loads of Vista stuff around that you can adorn XP with.

nirofo.

Yes I agree with nirofo why be a guinea pig. I never entertain a new OS until service pack 1 has been issued.

The free key is released.
For those who have made the download, here is the link how to obtain the key.

LINK

You need to have a hotmail or msn email (Microsoft Live Login or formerly Microsoft Passport), if not follow the instructions on the site.

For those who want to be the "Fist boy/girl in the block" also do not get bother by challenges of advancement and know how to report a bug, and also like to have 100-500$ saved for now, it comes ear suiting to know that Microsoft has Windows Vista RC2 available for download. Click on MS or HERE to go to the download site if you like. Remember Uncle Bill won't give something for free or no reason. Well there is a reason he is the only human in history of mankind that has become a self-rich-man whose asset for the very first time is measured in terms of Trillion. So be prepare to be a Guiana pig if you are adventurous enough and you like to have the please of free first hand trial.

As pointed by other posters, would be a good idea to either install this on a new hard drive added / replacing you existing one (In case you want to go back to old OS or find the challenge beyond expectations), alternative is to have a second partition of your current HD for this OS but I don't advice that and definitely don't advice for a full switch at this time.

BTW the Vista unlike father XP, is going to be release at at least 4-5 entirely different configurations, completely different from one another i.e. not like XP home, professional MMC etc that where close relative of one another and be prepare to pay well for the fancy versions.