The End Game

The first Windows Vista beta shows significant progress toward delivering the promised architectural improvements. However, the Windows team still has significant development and testing to complete before it will be able to ship the next desktop version of Windows. Customers evaluating Windows Vista have to consider whether Microsoft can deliver this release on time, which releases to evaluate, how features might be packaged into various editions, and whether new hardware will be necessary to use the new features. Some customers will also want to give a second look to Windows Vista’s predecessor version, Windows XP SP2.

Shipping Vista on Time

Customers evaluating Windows Vista should keep in mind that not all promised features will necessarily arrive by the end of 2006 as currently planned. Microsoft insists it is on schedule to ship Windows Vista before the end of 2006 and that it has implemented new development processes designed to ensure both that it delivers a quality product and that it delivers it on schedule.