WITH VISTA'S name/brand totally tarnished, Microsoft is hurriedly pushing Vista 7 into "release candidate" status (prematurely, naturally). Just over a week ago we wrote about how Microsoft had corrupted the meaning of the term "release candidate", according to its most friendly among analysts (c/f Analysts Cartel [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]).

The Washington Post, despite Microsoft's strong influence on it (more background and details here) is not particularly impressed.

Windows 7: Not Quite The Change We Need

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To fix those deeper-seated ailments, however, Microsoft would have had to put in a lot more than two years of work. We might not be able to try out Vista's replacement for another year or two--but at that point, we might see a dramatically improved operating system that could never be mistaken for a Service Pack update to Vista.

Now, watch this: Windows 7 Beta Flunks Out Of Georgetown

A prestigious Washington, D.C., university has barred students and faculty from using the trial version of Microsoft's new Windows 7 operating system on school computers.

"Do not install new Microsoft beta release," states a new warning from Georgetown University's IT group. "Installing any beta version of software is extremely risky," the warning states.

Windows fan sites are also downplaying the severe security issues just found in Vista 7:

Malware can turn off UAC in Windows 7; “By design” says Microsoft

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As the Windows operating system cannot differentiate between a user clicking a button and a program clicking a button, UAC was initially implemented to always prompt the user via a dialog shown in the Secure Desktop, similar to the login screen.

One of our readers told us that he was unable to remove viruses from Vista because UAC was getting in his away. In other words, UAC permits viruses to enter in whilst blocking those who try to remove these viruses. This almost screams "failure". According to The Register, Microsoft just doesn't care about these architectural flaws that compromise security. Vista 7 was already vulnerable to hijacking, without any patches available at the time.

When the buzz marketing and AstroTurfing fade away, it'll be interesting to see what people think of this version of Windows that lacks sufficient quality control. Why not just download final releases of GNU/Linux instead of some beta? ⬆

"In the face of strong competition, Evangelism's focus may shift immediately to the next version of the same technology, however. Indeed, Phase 1 (Evangelism Starts) for version x+1 may start as soon as this Final Release of version X."

--Microsoft, internal document [PDF]