Internet Explorer has been upgraded as well, with a variety of additions and fixes, including RSS fixes, improved responsiveness, and some minor interface changes (for details, see Review: What's New In Internet Explorer 7 RC1). To a great extent, the version of IE in Vista now matches IE 7 RC1 for XP. The primary difference is that the Windows Vista version is more secure because it uses the secure Protected Mode, which the Windows XP version does not have.
Many people may not notice one big change -- much-improved driver support. One of the biggest complaints about Beta 2 was how sketchy its hardware support was, with many people experiencing significant problems getting it to recognize their hardware. On my Dell Inspiron E1505, for example, it refused to recognize my built-in Wi-Fi adapter, and forced me to download and install drivers manually. With this installation, it recognized the adapter without a hitch. There has been less hue and cry online, with few people complaining about hardware woes.
Still Work To Be Done
Windows Vista may be closer to release, but as I said before, it's not quite ready for prime time. Network support for XP-based PCs, for example, remains flaky at best. The computers often do not show up at all in the Network Map or when you're using Windows Explorer, but then for no apparent reason they suddenly appear -- and disappear again. For example, I had computers showing up in the Network queue when using Windows Explorer, but not in the Network Map.
There are problems with notebooks as well. When I close the lid on my Dell Inspiron E1505, for example, Vista RC1 won't wake properly from hibernation. I need to unplug it and take out the battery in order to restart.
Beyond that, the Control Panel and its associated categories and applets should be tweaked again. Microsoft has done a good job streamlining all this, particularly with the Networking category and Networking Center. But more could be done to prevent minor confusion. It's unlikely that will happen, though, because Microsoft says that the user interface is done. We'll see.
For example, in the Network and Internet Control Panel, there is a large icon for Networking and Sharing, and then a text link underneath it, titled "View network status and tasks." Clicking on the icon brings you to the Networking and Sharing Center, as you might expect. But clicking "View network status and tasks" brings you to the Center as well. What's the point of that?
One other minor change that may affect some users: The free avast! anti-virus scanner, one of the few anti-virus programs that works with Vista -- and the only free one to do so -- doesn't work with the RC1 code as of this writing.
The Bottom Line
RC1 is solid, fast, and much improved over Beta 2. It's still too early to tell whether Microsoft will meet its goal of a January 30, 2007, consumer launch of Vista. But for those, including myself, who were skeptical that Redmond would meet that date, this new release may put those fears to rest.
