Stan Beer
Monday, 25 September 2006 22:24
Opinion and Analysis
Just in case you missed it, following the release of RC1, Microsoft has released another build of Windows Vista.
I'm not quite sure how the Microsoft numbering
system works, but the latest Vista release is called build 5728, which
is a little scary if the numbering is merely sequential. Anyway numbers
from 5700 onwards go beyond RC1 to release to manufacturing (RTM) stage.
Exactly what the difference is between a release candidate and a
release to manufacturing version is a matter of semantics I guess. To
my mind, a release candidate should be a version capable of being
released and release to manufacturing is a version that is being
released. Obviously the terms mean something else to Microsoft.
According to Microsoft, the new build has a number of improvements over
plain old RC1, including bug fixes and improved stability (less
crashes?).
For some reason, Microsoft also has seen fit to give users the option
to tune off the music that plays when the system boots - presumably due
to more than a few requests.
Anyway, Vista build 5728 is supposed to be just about there, although
not quite. However, until the designated testers come back with their
verdicts, what's left to do and whether Microsoft will meet its
November deadline for business users will remain a mystery.