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Redmond (WA) - If Windows Vista Beta 1 is indeed released tomorrow as indicated by numerous sources this afternoon - though which Microsoft refuses to confirm - developers and administrators testing the system can expect an advanced shell, a completely replaced video driver model, and a sneak peek at Internet Explorer 7.0, expert sources tell Tom's Hardware Guide.

But we're also told, many of the new features users have been promised - including the remnants of features that Chairman Bill Gates introduced to such fanfare in October 2003 - may wait for initial testing for Beta 2, whose internal milestone date, if Microsoft has one, is not yet known. In fact, one of the key purposes of the Beta 1 release may be to concentrate on a subset of key features, prior to testing the critical features that end users have been promised, such as dramatically improved on-screen rendering, and upgraded wireless connectivity.

"Beta 1 is not feature-complete - it's not even close," said Paul Thurrott, the site master of the widely respected Windows Supersite and news editor of Windows IT Pro. Contrary to earlier reports from Microsoft and others, Beta 1 will not be a "public beta," on the order of the two beta releases of Office XP made available prior to that application suite's commercial release. Instead, Beta 1 will be available to exclusive invitees and subscribers to the MSDN and TechNet development programs. However, Beta 2--whose release date is not yet known--may actually be a public beta, and will likely include a broader feature set. Thurrott told Tom's Hardware Guide that Microsoft is planning to release interim builds of Windows Vista Beta 2, as patches available for download online.
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Read More / Source: Tom's Hardware Guide