Microsoft had planned to ship a variant of Windows Vista build 5381 as Beta 2, the version that the company will be delivering to millions of consumers later this month. However, problems with build 5381 have changed those plans somewhat, along with the schedule for getting Beta 2 into the hands of users. Last weekend, Microsoft surprisingly issued a variant of build 5381 to testers after previously noting that it wouldn"t ship any more interim builds before Beta 2.
Now, Microsoft plans to release a DVD of Vista Beta 2 and Office 2007 Beta 2 to attendees of the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference. (WinHEC) on May 23. Meanwhile, users who wish to obtain a DVD version of Beta 2 via the company"s public Web site will have to wait until May 27.