Microsoft has passed another major milestone toward completing the next generation of its flagship operating system, but analysts said it is too early to tell whether Windows Vista will be ready on time.

The company last Friday invited outside software testers to try Release Candidate 1 (RC1), a near-final version of its first new desktop computer-operating system since October 2001.

The RC1 is exclusively available to TechBeta testers through the company's MSDN Developer Network and Technet community in the upcoming days.

According to Jim Allchin, Co-President, Platform and Services Division, Microsoft Corp., the company has introduced a number of changes including updates to the user interface, additional driver support and improved performance.

"We're not done yet, however -- quality will continue to improve. We'll keep plugging away on application compatibility, as well as fit and finish, until the release to manufacturing," Allchin wrote in an e-mail to TechBeta subscribers.

The company also said RC1 is mature enough for software developers to use as an updated platform for Vista-ready applications.

Michael Cherry, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft in Kirkland, said he doubts there is enough time for Microsoft to finalize Vista before November.

This RC1 milestone should matter to ordinary consumers because it's a sign Microsoft is "starting the home stretch" on Vista, he said.

Source:Xinhua/Agencies