Windows Vista 5342 Screenshots

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."

Comments

Performance rating

[LiquidCoooled]

In the performance rating screenshot, they give seperate ratings for CPU graphics etc then give a total overall figure.
Something doesn't make sense:

Processor: P4 3.0GHZ 4.3
Memory: 1023mb 5.2
Hard Drive: 179GB free 4.8
Graphics Radeon 9600 4.3
Graphics Mem: 126mb 3.7

Overall Rating: 3

Wouldn't it be reasonable to expect this machine to have a 4?

Or is graphics memory the only meaningful metric?

Vista Screenshots Slashdotted in less than 5

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm surprised so many people are even checking this out with all the Windows hate you people feature.

First thoughts

[DarthChris]

• Still uses crappy activation
• In the third [screen]shot down, the windows stacked at a 3-D angle looks horrible. It might amuse little kids for a while though (clippy all over again)
• The updated paint doesn't look that different, and anyone with any serious graphics needs isn't going to use it anyway
• More of those lovely flashy blue setup screens that dumb down the interface (I personally don't like them)
• The performance rating is an interesting idea; it might be useful for people buying games (especially parents)

Disclaimer: I rushed this post a bit, I'm in a hurry

Re:First thoughts

[Coolnat2004]

It looks alright, but I still prefer Mac OS X's Exposé.. mainly because you can see the entire window, just scaled down.

Does this feature in Vista show animations / videos when switching through the windows? I find it handy with Exposé since I can monitor several windows at once (for example, progress bars.. or watch a video while monitoring progress in other applications, etc.) With the 3D angle, though, I don't think it will be as handy..

Looks more like a Linux desktop all the time

[caseih]

Funny how the window decorations in these screenshots look a lot like the new default Fedora Core 5 metacity theme, at least in terms of shape and the window operation buttons. Shame on Redhat for copying Windows like that. Oh wait.

Seems to me Windows is looking more and more like the *nix desktops all the time. I guess this means that Linux really is influencing even Microsoft.

Having played with Xgl a bit, I find it cool, but generally speaking translucent windows are not that useful and often make the contents of the windows harder to read. Looks like MS's take on this is to add blurring to the translucency which actually makes the window contents very readable while still maintaining some transparency. Whether this is going to be a good thing when you have a bunch of windows stacked on top of each other I don't know. But definitely the blurring effect plus the translucency is much better than just the translucency that I can get with Xgl. Of course nothing stops one from doing the bluring in Xgl too. Xgl has all of these capabilities right here now. It will be interesting to see how translucency is finally used. For all its eye-candy, OS X does almost no translucency, except on the dock.

Luminesweeper ;-)

[tepples]

Do they have screenies of Solitaire and Minesweeper?

Solitaire has been ditched in favor of Lumines, and both games have been rewritten using VBA.