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EXCLUSIVE: PROnetworks Live From Windows Vista Beta 2 Lab</font></b>
May 9, 2006
by Larry Richman
Once again, PROnetworks is reporting live from Redmond, Washington for another Windows Vista Lab. We are visiting Microsoft headquarters as part of a select group of invited Windows Vista Featured Community leaders. This one is being dubbed the "Windows Vista Beta 2 Lab."
The first Windows Vista Lab last July was originally dubbed the 'Longhorn Lab,' and it was at that very event Microsoft formally unveiled their new name for Windows Codename 'Longhorn' - Windows Vista. We were able to partake in some amazing events and witness first-hand some great stuff (see <a>HERE</a>).
This time, we will get a sneak peek into progress made since the February CTP, including Media Center, IE7, Windows Live and more. And as we did at WinHEC, the WWPC, last year's Longhorn Lab, and the Mini-Windows Vista Lab at the CES, we will once again speak directly with MS product team and execs and let them know what we think.
Of course, our PROnetworks members will get exclusive info here in our Vista News forum throughout the event, so stay tuned!
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<b>The ballgame (game? what game?)</b>
I just returned from our first event -- the Seattle Mariners vs Tampa Bay Devil Rays. We all gathered downstairs in the hotel lobby to take the bus to Safeco Field. Most of the group were the same ones who have been at the previous Vista Labs and conferences like WinHEC, so this was a chance for old friends to reunite.
This was also the first chance for us to meet Nick White, the new MS staffer in charge of the Featured Communities program. It is now Nick's job to run <a href="http://hive.net/member/default.aspx" target="_blank">The Hive</a> (the site run by MS and the Featured Communities) and set up these events. Aaron Coldiron, who has moved up the ladder, did show up to the event and we spent a good bit of time catching up.
Other than those discussions, though, it was pretty much all fun and games. It was in a suite out in right field, with a few rows of seats that look out on the ballpark, and a big lounge with the food and drink and some tables. Most of us sat around the tables eating, drinking, and chatting. Every so often we realized that there was a baseball game going on. But nobody really paid much attention to the game.
There was a lot of whining and complaining about the state of Vista. Almost everyone seems very frustrated and upset and disappointed that development is not farther along. The general consensus is that at this point it should basically be able to function as a main OS. But it has far too many problems for being at such a late stage in the process. Depending on who you talk to, Vista is either a very problematic OS with a lot of work left to be done or a train wreck. Of course, that is what the next two days are about and I suspect that the Vista people will be inundated with questions and complaints.
As it turned out, Seattle blew out Tampa Bay 8-1. It wasn't much of a ballgame. But everyone had a great time.
I should also mention that word had gotten around about how our screenshot post had attracted thousands of users on Sunday and Monday, many more than usual (see our story <a href="http://www.pronetworks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=75627" target="_blank">HERE</a>). It isn't often that a news site makes news, but I guess we have all of you to thank for that!
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<b>Exciting new gaming programs and more...</b>
6 of the areas covered in the sessions included:
The new Windows Vista game title lineup
The capabilities of DirectX 10 graphics
The new "Live Anywhere" gaming program
Other "Games for Windows"
The new "Games for Windows" program
New cross-platform wireless accessories
MS has now issued official information about these, so scroll down to "Press Releases" and catch up on the latest and coolest Windows Vista gaming announcements.
Also see the interview with the director of Windows Vista Gaming <a href="http://www.pronetworks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=75953&highlight=" target="_blank">HERE</a>.
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<b>URGE in Windows Media Player 11</b>
We saw this in action, and yesterday it went live. See our article <a href="http://www.pronetworks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=623101#623101" target="_blank">HERE</a>.
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<b>Windows Vista Beta 2 and Office 2007 at WinHEC</b>
See information <a href="http://www.pronetworks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=623288#623288" target="_blank">HERE</a>.
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