Vista prices confirmed, tests to expand

Microsoft confirmed retail prices for its forthcoming Windows Vista operating system Tuesday and announced plans to expand testing of a near-final version to as many as 5 million people.

The details on Vista follow the availability Friday of Release Candidate 1 (RC1) of Vista — an essentially complete program that needs a final cycle of outside testing, user feedback and fine-tuning before hitting the market.

Microsoft aims to launch Vista for large-volume customers in November and for others in January.

The operating system was made available Friday to about 80,000 software users who participate in Microsoft testing programs. This week, the company is pushing out copies of RC1 to a broader audience.

Feedback from early RC1 testers has been positive. Paul Thurrott, who has followed Vista every step of the way, said on his blog, "This is the Windows Vista you were promised three years ago."

The company is planning to give people who buy computers before the launch a coupon or other form of discount on an upgrade to Vista, though the details aren't confirmed, said Shanen Boettcher, general manager of Windows Client Product Management.

— Benjamin J. Romano