Microsoft Launches Vista's RC2

It has been a long road for Microsoft's next generation operating system, but things are finally winding down and the light at the end of the tunnel is visible. Microsoft rolled out the Windows Vista Release Candidate 2 (RC2) to technical testers on Friday, a version that it says will be the last before a release to manufacturing.

Windows Vista RC2 (or build 5744.16384 as it's known internally) is available to Vista beta testers via the Microsoft Connect site. Incorporating feedback from earlier test releases, the world's largest software maker said it distributed Windows Vista Release Candidate 2, or RC2, for its testers to try and roll out drawbacks as felt by them with time.

Leading industry analysts are predicting an on-time release of Vista; Rick Sherlund of Goldman Sachs Group said, "We had been skeptical of the launch schedule after Beta 2 shipped with problems in May, but the team seems to be making great progress in addressing issues of performance, reliability and compatibility."

According to the statements given in the press there are thousands of quality improvements since Windows Vista RC1. One will probably notice improvements in performance, application compatibility, as well as fit and finish work. They said they will continue improving quality until RTM.

One of major changes which has revolutionized many equations is the internet browser Firefox being officially associated with vista. This indicates a harmony between the previous complicated relationships of Internet Explorer and Firefox.

The software major even recognizes a 1.83% in its share prices in the international market as soon as it released Vista RC2. This is perceived to be a win-win situation as of now.

The company said it will move forward with its plans to release Vista in November to its Business Partners and to the consumer market in late January 2007 - although Microsoft does keep giving itself an out in case it misses those projected dates.

Microsoft Windows sits on more than 90 percent of the world's personal computers and the Windows business accounts for about 30 percent of the company's $44 billion in revenue.