This column will cover Part One of my Vista RC2 experience; Part Two will appear in next week's column. As for my time with Office 2007: Look to my SMB IT (http://weblog.infoworld.com/smbit) blog, as well as the Test Center Daily (http://weblog.infoworld.com/tcdaily/).
The RC2 code we eager press-beavers got is a full version of the Vista Ultimate SKU. That means it's got everything, including a lot of end-user stuff such as Media Center functionality. For coverage of that sort of thing, check out the review (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,127446/article.html) in our sister pub, PC World. Here, I'm going to try and stick to the more business-centric stuff.
The most important business change: They messed with Solitaire. I know, grab a tissue, sniffle, and mark down the memorial service we're holding next Tuesday at my editor Ted Samson's house. [Please remember this time, Oliver, that it's BYOB. -- Ed.]
Not only has Solitaire has become needlessly automated, but all the games have gotten semi-squinty UI facelifts, and none of them are office-friendly. That's right, cubicle cowboys are courting danger playing any Vista game because all the games are now equipped with distinctive and boss-attracting beeps, gleeps, and blurps; turn off your sound, folks. You can also share some scores online, although I doubt this is going to give World of Warcraft any competition.
OK, let's get serious. I've already written up my original impressions of RC2 (http://weblog.infoworld.com/tcdaily/archives/2006/10/preview_microso.html). Now we're talking about day-to-day life in a supposedly stable OS. A little different. I'm not so worried about driver issues, such as RC2 refusing to see my 500GB Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive when RC1 would; Microsoft and Iomega will work that stuff out.