Windows Vista Beta 2 is now available for IT professionals and developers with MSDN and TechNet subscriptions. In the coming weeks, Microsoft will start the Windows Vista Customer Preview Program (CPP) for developers and IT professionals who are not members of the subscription services.
The Windows Vista CPP will also be available to technology enthusiasts that want to install and test a copy of Windows Vista Beta 2.
Ease of use
When you start using Windows Vista, you will recognize familiar elements such as the Start menu, which is now faster, more streamlined, and more helpful than in previous versions of Windows. The Start menu features integrated desktop search through a new feature called Instant Search which can help you find and launch almost anything on your PC. Just type in a word, a name, or a phrase, and Instant Search can find the right file for you. But more than that, the new start menu makes it very easy for you to navigate across all of the installed applications on your PC. Eliminating the slow performing, cascading "All Programs" view, the new start menu can help you get something started more quickly than ever.
visit to get a picture of all these magnificent features n u can download the FREE version as well!
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/features/default.mspx
but damn, it needs at least 10G of hard drive to be installed
anywayz, it looks soooo good, but well, except for the graphics n appearnece n NEW GAMES(*YES, NEW GAMES, it includes CHESS as well,YAY YAY) nothings really different from XP, so, whatever it can do, XP does it as well..
note* it's an uncomplete version if u wanna download it, eg;No help files, n also u might find errors and also u can have ur suggestion
, so, i better check it out before saying anything 
silly me,