The latest 5270 build comes with DX10.

That build already comes with the latest LDDM driver. No need to do anything. If your ATI GC is DX9 compatible, you will see Aero enabled right from the start.

LDDM = Longhorn Display Driver Model ; WDDM = Windows Display Driver Model

Read more about those here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvi...tahardware.mspx

Around September 2006 or so. That is the targeted release.

Some are (compatible) and some are not.
I can personally verify that winamp works though.

You're obviously talking about something else here. We're not discussing Vista themes.

Yes the beta currently requires quite a bit of space to install.
It does take a huge chunk of memory (untweaked).

Haven't had much time toying with it lately. Lemme check the boards and see if it's alright for me to post some shots.

Hmm, haven't tested file sharing in the latest 5308 build, but it worked (with another Windows XP machine) previously. You can try asking in the newsgroups to see if there's already an issue on this.

5342 runs pretty spiffy.

Do a test for me : Do a "Sort by Name" in the Classic Start Menu. Explorer crashed twice (each time I did it). Reloads back flawlessly though.

Aiyah, to see if others can also reproduce (the problem) lah. ehe.

This post has been edited by Eoma: Apr 2 2006, 09:45 PM

Hmm, the image is larger compared to v5342. Well getting it now. Will give my thoughts by this weekend.

I woke up early today morning, so i could play around with the Beta 2 build, and here are my thoughts:

Installation on my slow Maxtor 15GB disk took roughly 1 hour 15mins from booting up the installer to finish. Faster than previous builds. They cleaned up the interface and looks pretty good. Total space (default@Vista Ultimate Edition) = 6.67GB + 2.3GB for the page file = ~ 10GB. You can change the pagefile size later on though, like I did to 1GB.

Boot times are impressive; pretty much like my primary Win XP installation. Performance has further improved (from the last build 5365 that I had). No sluggish menus, loads, , hdd thrashing, etc. Bear in mind, that this is on my slower Maxtor 15Gb. If I install on the primary WD80GB, there shoud be further (though slight) loading benefits.

RAM usage = Heavy. Windows Classic theme @desktop with only the sidebar running (and other default services left on, untweaked) took up about 502MB of RAM. Changing to Windows Aero saw the usage go up to 680MB. Taskbar shows(with IE7 and 6 tabs open) RAM usage at roughly around 740MB. 2Gigs definately!

I don't like the default Start Menu options, though it is easily tweaked.
I'm gonna have to get used to the new default Explorer setup. Classic menus and folders is still available for those wondering.

For the ATI users, the Catalyst for Longhorn Beta 2 installs fine. Current driver revision adds Adaptive AA in the CCC options. Drivers (as before) show a GDI version of 9ex.

Might try some D3D and OGL demos on it later after lunch.

Yes, your DVD drive will be sufficient; and recommended too since Vista won't fit in one CD like Windows XP does.

I have had it happen to me in the previous builds as well. Still buggy I see. You can report it in if you're so inclined. You can try uninstalling your network device and re-installing, see if that helps.

Run it in XP compatibility mode. Right click the exe, Properties, etc etc.

Did you file a bug with the reporting tool ? I just got the x86 distro, x64 is d/l now.
keys haven't been sent though.

This post has been edited by Eoma: Nov 25 2006, 07:24 PM

Yup, just got my key earlier.
I'm waiting for my DX10 system before installing though. Just as a show of hands, x86 or x64 ?

of course , what i meant was for those with 64-bit procs, would you go x86 or x64 (more towards the unsigned drivers + F8 at boot issue; general compatibility etc). Just a show of hands is enough.

To the testers who got their RTM key: Our version has a Retail or OEM license ar ? I forget.

It probably would. The keygen generates the same keys as yours, and the fella activates it under a different machine.