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It's been a while since Microsoft unveiled Vista to a waiting world.
Now the web-rumour mill is indicating that the beta version of its first service release is only two weeks away.
Tech site zdnet.com credited unnamed sources when saying that the release will be available around July 16. A full version is expected in November, it said, meaning that the release would have only been at beta stage for a strangely short four months.
Many of those willing to adopt the brand-spanking OS or who just had it bundled with a new machine - are still left waiting for drivers.
Most PC users haven't got the time and inclination to trawl the net for updates, but as it stands this is the best way to get driver issues sorted.
Creative has now released both 32 and 64-bit drivers for most of its product line.
Graphics giants Nvidia and ATI nearly got their respective acts together last month, but there are still niggles with some features on high-end graphics cards.
Realtek have posted driver updates, in both 32-bit and 64-bit form, for HD audio products.
Intel has also sorted its Matrix SATA disk controllers.
- NZ HERALD STAFF