Windows Vista Beta 2 Axed as Microsoft Favors CTPs

Published: February 1, 2006

by Alex Woodie

Microsoft has modified its Windows Vista testing schedule, eliminating a second beta of the new Windows version in favor of additional interim test releases, which it calls "Community Technology Previews."

Microsoft watchers had eagerly expected to see sometime soon a second Vista beta, as a follow-up to the first beta released last summer and an interim CTP release in December. But now Microsoft has ditched the "big bang" beta release cycle in favor of the CTP cycle, which promises more "little bang" releases with fewer big changes and more continuity between releases. The next CTP could be unveiled in the next week or two.

Following the CTP cycle comes the Release Candidate (RC) cycle, in which Microsoft seeks to incorporate feedback it received during the CTP cycle. The number of RC releases depends in large part on the quality of the software, and is something that Microsoft reserves the right to modify at any time. In any event, these betas, CTPs, and RCs should be all said and done by late summer or early fall, if Microsoft is to have any shot of getting Windows Vista on retailers' shelves for the year-end 2006 consumer shopping extravaganza.