Microsoft will involve more than five million users in testing for Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1), more than doubling the pool for the Beta 2 roll-out. The company plans to make it available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers, as well as in magazines distributed worldwide, according to Computerworld.
RC1 will expire May 31, 2007, although Microsoft still plans to get Windows Vista into business customersi hands this November and onto retail store shelves, as well as OEMsi computers, in January. Pricing for the Vista Home Basic edition will be US$199 or $99.95 as an upgrade. That version will lack such features as the highly-touted Aero interface.
Vista Home Premium will be $239, or $159 as an upgrade, while Vista Business will sell for $299, or $199 as an upgrade. A final package, Vista Ultimate, will cost $399, or $259 as an upgrade. Pricing for Windows Vista Enterprise wasnit made available.