I wish I never had to write this, but alas Microsoft is breaking my heart. After five years of research seems to me they just wasted millions of dollars. Some improvement definitely adds on, specially some bugs that were existed in XP SP2 and in RC1 have been resolved. But some new one pops out, and some were just left alone, maybe for the next version, so that people need to spend some more cash. Total disappointment for people like me who were expecting even a week ago Vista will be the next generation OS. It is next generation OS, but a devastating OS.

The improvement from Vista RC1 to RC2 is dramatically well, I have to reckon that. I tested vista in 2 PC each with 1 GB RAM and Intel core duo, so no question about poor quality PC. Installation on my No. 1 desktop and the no.2 desktop test systems was quick and painless, requiring only about 25 minutes thanks to Microsoft's new image-based setup. I was eager to get started with what I hoped would be a production-quality product with just a few rough edges left to smooth out. But hell just after logging in, I encountered agonizingly sluggish performance, as well as some interface glitches of a sort that I haven't seen in RC1. One of my systems was plagued with problems like screen-redraw bugs and vanishing icons, and at the end just booted me out twice. My first couple of hours with Vista RC2 was frustrating in both of the desktop.

The visualization has dramatically increased performance compare to RC1, memory management become well, after few boot up the systems screen-redraw glitch disappeared. Performance still doesn't seem as snappy as I'd like, and operations like sleeping and resuming sometimes—though not always—take surprisingly long to complete. Few times my network connection got totally invisible, while I was trying to setup the internet connection. I experienced it in both desktop.  Another problem arouse driver compatibility, one my desktop I am using a ATI Radeon X1600 series (not too old, just 7 months old) after installing the driver when I rebooted, pure blank screen. I tried both default driver with RC2 and the latest from ATI web, but same case. But on the other desktop it was running seamlessly with ATI Radeon X1950. Another pain in the Butt is using Windows defender with RC2, Oh by the way all Zone alarm, Norton, MacAfee don’t work anymore.

Now look at the picture- get ready for Windows Vista (means I have to spend $200-$300 for upgrading) and spend minimum $400 or combine your cash buy a new PC with some other OS. I am feeling like trapped. And great news for those who are running XP SP1, Microsoft stop support for them, so need to upgrade either to SP2 or Vista. Crap Microsoft will stop piracy; will empty people’s wallet, and no way out. Don't say i hate Microsoft, i am a windows user too. But this making me more worried. Hope they will fix these bugs before final Vista.

Download  Vista RC2 and test it. Make sure you backup all data in other PC/Laptop.