Microsoft heeft gisteren Windows Whistler Beta 1 gereleased naar betatesters, softwaremakers en hardwarefabrikanten. Build 2296 zou een grote stap moeten zijn in Microsoft's doelstelling om de kracht van de NT kernel en het gebruiksgemak van Windows Millenium te combineren. Beta 1 is tevens beschikbaar als 64 bit versie, om getest te worden met Intel's Itanium processor:
"The release of Whistler Beta 1 represents the next step in delivering on our vision for Windows and will provide software and hardware vendors with a single code-base on which to develop applications and devices for both home and business PC users," says Microsoft senior VP Brian Valentine, who oversees the Windows Division at Microsoft. "This release will help us continue to receive the feedback we need, which will help ensure broad compatibility of software applications and hardware devices and ultimately provide the best customer experience."
Microsoft is van plan om in de tweede helft van 2001 eerst de desktopversie van Whistler te lanceren, om later met de server versies te komen.