SEATTLE, WA – Microsoft has released Windows Vista Beta 1 (previously called “Windows Longhorn”), designed to provide greater stability and security than previous versions of Windows to inspire a “new level of confidence in your PC,” according to Brad Goldberg, Windows client general manager.Wednesday’s release of the preproduction code to approximately 10,000 technical beta testers will be followed by a second beta release by the end of 2005. Beta 1 is what is known as a “programmers’ build,” meaning it gives developers a chance to see how the new OS works before Microsoft adds in the finishing touches for the overall look and feel of the product. Final shipment of the new OS will not take place until at least the 3rd quarter of 2006.

“The whole canvas is not complete,” said Greg Sullivan, group product manager in the Windows client division. “We’ve painted less than half the picture here.”

Windows appears to have borrowed heavily from the competition in the structure and functionality of Windows Vista, including features of Linux and Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.

As with Linux, Windows Vista assigns a Standard user level and a separate Administrator login, so even if the OS has only one user, that user will still need to log in with Administrator privileges to perform high-level functions, such as changing the status of hidden or read-only files. This added layer of security and effort required to make fundamental changes should reduce the occurrence of spyware installing without the user’s knowledge, and exploits allowing remote access and control of their computers.

Vista incorporates enhanced desktop search features throughout its new OS, much like Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. Users will be able to search from the Windows Start menu or within applications, and search within the new version of Internet Explorer 7.0, as well.

ZDNet reviewers point out that “the new ability for the Windows Vista firewall to stop malicious activity both inbound and outbound will not be enabled by default,” and recommend that users access the ‘Control Panel’ and activate the two-way firewall option, or disable the Windows Vista firewall entirely and install a third-party firewall.