Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News

      Early Looks at Vista Are Welcome (in More Ways Than One)

      By
      Jason Brooks
      -
      February 17, 2006
      Share
      Facebook
      Twitter
      Linkedin

        Another Windows Vista build is about to arrive via Microsofts Community Technical Preview program.

        /zimages/5/28571.gifRead more here about the upcoming Vista CTP and beta deployment tools.

        The program hasnt managed to meet its initial goal of monthly releases, but it has offered members of the Windows ecosystem more opportunity than ever to participate in the development of Windows.

        The road from “Whistler” to Windows XP, in contrast, offered precious few pit stops—two beta releases and a couple of release candidates leading up to an RTM that was to form the foundation for the Windows desktop for five years to come.

        With a public testing process so abbreviated, theres little wonder why so many IT administrators opted to wait for a first—or even a second—service pack before deployment of Windows XP.

        On that note, its good to see that deployment will be a focus of the February CTP build.

        In particular, were hoping to see signs of Vistas promised image-based installation scheme, in which the bulk of Windows is copied at once to disk in the form of an image file.

        This should make for much faster install times compared with the current method, in which system files are copied individually.

        /zimages/5/28571.gifClick here to read more about Vista security patches.

        The CTP builds eWEEK Labs has tested so far have taken about an hour to install, much more time than XP now requires.

        However, while image-based deployment options and the CTP program are definitely positive steps toward improved Windows development and deployment, they arent big or bold enough to keep pace with competitors—in particular, those developing operating systems around the Linux kernel.

        Its hard not to compare Vistas development and deployment processes against those of the other OSes in development that were tracking at eWEEK Labs, such as the Debian-based Ubuntu 6.04 and Red Hats Fedora Core 5.

        Both of these systems move forward not in quarterly, monolithic chunks—as Vista does—but in daily, individual packages that can be easily debugged.

        Its likely too late for Microsoft to modularize the development and deployment of Windows in time for Vista, but wed love to see the firm emulate these nimbler deployment approaches in the Longhorn Server timeframe.

        /zimages/5/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for Microsoft and Windows news, views and analysis.

        Jason Brooks
        As Editor in Chief of eWEEK Labs, Jason Brooks manages the Labs team and is responsible for eWEEK's print edition. Brooks joined eWEEK in 1999, and has covered wireless networking, office productivity suites, mobile devices, Windows, virtualization, and desktops and notebooks. Jason's coverage is currently focused on Linux and Unix operating systems, open-source software and licensing, cloud computing and Software as a Service. Follow Jason on Twitter at jasonbrooks, or reach him by email at [email protected]

        MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

        Cybersecurity

        Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

        James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
        I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
        Read more
        Big Data and Analytics

        Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

        James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
        I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
        Read more
        Big Data and Analytics

        GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

        James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
        I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
        Read more
        Applications

        Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

        James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
        I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
        Read more
        Cloud

        Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

        James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
        Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
        Read more
        Logo

        eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

        Facebook
        Linkedin
        RSS
        Twitter
        Youtube

        Advertisers

        Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

        Advertise with Us

        Menu

        • About eWeek
        • Subscribe to our Newsletter
        • Latest News

        Our Brands

        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms
        • About
        • Contact
        • Advertise
        • Sitemap
        • California – Do Not Sell My Information

        Property of TechnologyAdvice.
        © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

        Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

        ×