The AnderNaut

Well the last couple of weeks has seen some significant software releases for Beta software for Windows, even Windows itself. I downloaded the Microsoft Office System 2007 Beta 2 a couple of weeks ago and plan on giving it a look here over the next few weeks. Yesterday, it appears, Microsoft has also released the public Beta 2 of Windows Vista, which I’m hoping to have time to look at too. So you ask what is the easiest way to test these betas without corrupting my current production system? Well personally I’m running VMWare’s Server that is free. Unfortunantly VMWare does not have a OS X version at this time. This software allows for virtual computers (virtual machines - VMs) to run on one machine, make sure to verify that you computers hardware can support running VMs. Another way would be to use dedicated computer if you had one laying around.

I have been installing Windows Vista into a VM as I have been writing this post. The process has been quite simple so far and did not take that long at all. The install process now has a GUI interface and launches right into setting up a user and basic settings. I am currently getting the VMWare Tools package installed so that devices, like the Network Card, Audio, and USB, can be loaded and allow the system to run smoother.

I’ll post more later, and by that I am talking about sooner.

Get Vista Beta 2
Get Office 2007 Beta 2
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[…] Well I can say I am liking what I have seen so far with Windows Vista, RC1. I had been running Beta 2 in VM since it became available via the CPP (Customer Preview Program). For those of you who signed up for Vista Beta 2 in June for the CPP you should have received an e-mail allowing to download Vista RC1. For those who did not sign-up or get to sign-up they will be opening up to new participants in the next couple of weeks. […]

[…] Well I can say I am liking what I have seen so far with Windows Vista, RC1. I had been running Beta 2 in VM since it became available via the CPP (Customer Preview Program). For those of you who signed up for Vista Beta 2 in June for the CPP you should have received an e-mail allowing to download Vista RC1. For those who did not sign-up or get to sign-up they will be opening up to new participants in the next couple of weeks. […]

[…] Well I can say I am liking what I have seen so far with Windows Vista, RC1. I had been running Beta 2 in VM since it became available via the CPP (Customer Preview Program). For those of you who signed up for Vista Beta 2 in June for the CPP you should have received an e-mail allowing to download Vista RC1. For those who did not sign-up or get to sign-up they will be opening up to new participants in the next couple of weeks. […]