The software maker did not give a time frame for the release of Beta 2 of the operating system, and said only that it would have more to say next year. Microsoft had not said when Beta 2 will come, but some had expected it might come in December or January.

Microsoft did say it still plans to release the final version of Vista in the second half of next year.

"First and foremost, we are still on track for general availability in the second half of calendar year 2006," said Amitabh Srivastava, a corporate vice president in Microsoft's Windows unit.

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I think the aim really is to have a near feature complete build, not to meet a CTP demand, so yes, don't expect a December CTP. I see this more as progress than a let down for Technical Testers, users should see some exciting stuff in the next build of Windows Vista.