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Windows Vista 5342 Screenshots

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the early-looks dept.

Lhopar writes "Microsoft released a new build of Windows Vista to beta testers. Flexbeta has got some screenshots. Included in this build is an extensive collection of drivers and the exclusive sidebar. Glass is also a feature that we all have come to respect and love, along with the 3D flip. The official version number is 6.0 Version 5342.winmain_idx04.060321-1730. Internet Explorer 7.0 is build Version 7.0.5342.2. Nice features include a new 'Paint' and needed redesigned network center."

1 of 478 comments (clear)

  1. Usefulness? by j741 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Pretty pictures, transparency, 3D effects. Oooooooh. But how useful, and more importanly, how easy will it be for someone, or someones grandparents, to actually use. The first thing I noticed was the lack of a 'START' button. It seems to have been replaced by a picture. Now I've been in tech support for over 10 years, and it's already dificult enough to get someone to follow simple directions over the telephone. I can just immagine the phone calls now:

        Tech: "O.k., please open the start menu and go to the control pannel"
        User: "Menu, uhm o.k. What menu? I don't see that."
        Tech: "The sart menu. Just click on the button that says 'start' in the bottom-left corner of your screen".
        User: "uhm, I don't see that. Hmmm. Start. Start. Nope, I don't see that anywhere"
        Tech: "O.K. Please tell me what you do see on your screen."
        User: "There are some pretty pictures. I really like the fish, but I want a shark in there."
        Tech: "O.K. Is this Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000 or something else?"
        User: "My grandson gave it to me. I don't know what it is. I think he said it was Microsoft."
        Tech: "O.K. So there is no 'start' word on the left side of the task bar at the bottom of your screen. What is at the bottom-left cornet of your screen?"
        User: "There's a nice little circle with some colors in it"
        Tech: "O.K. You are using Windows Vista. That circle is your 'start' menu. Please click on it to open it."
    -- BEEP --
    Your 5 minutes of free product support are now finished. Please enter your credit card number to continue speaking to a technical support representative. This call will be charged at $2.95 per minute. Please enter your credit card number now.

    Just the thing to increase productivity. Re-education needed yet again.

    --
    - James