With Vista RC2 - Likely the final "official" interim version of the operating system before Microsoft releases it to manufacturing in the next month -- the folks in Redmond have pulled together a product which impresses the prospective user.
I did a fresh install of RC2.
Vista's Flip 3D feature lets you stack up your open windows in a kind of flip-picture view in the middle of the screen, and scroll through them with the mouse to go back and forth among apps.
Vista RC2 maintained the streamlined welcome screen, which premiered with the earlier release candidate.
The Windows Experience Index relies heavily on graphics hardware to determine how robust your hardware is -- and whether it's ready to run the Aero GUI.
Microsoft has done a good job streamlining the controls, which enable users to personalize the look and feel of their graphical-user interface.
You can download up to 54 of the Vista Gadgets that reside on the right side of your desktop, up from an anemic 10 available with earlier betas.
It's not exactly Picasa or Flickr, but Vista is equipped with a PC-bound analog in the form of a sophisticated image browser and viewer