RC1 available without B2?

[Guest]

I have been anticipating the public beta 2 release of Vista for quite some
time now. Unfortunately, due to hardware issues on Comcast's side of my
internet connection, it appears I have missed the product key availability
window.
Does anyone know if, when it is released, RC1 will be offered to those who
are not already running B2? Or is this considered a B2 update only?
I've been busy testing every new product Microsoft has let me get my hands
on, even things I personally wouldn't normally use. It would really be a
shame to not be able to run the new OS through the gears before they finalize
everything...

 

[Guest]

Sorry about the quadruple post.
I kept getting an error saying my post could not be submitted.
Which I foolishly believed instead of refreshing the page to see that it
indeed had worked just fine...

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

It is a bug in the web-based newsreader. If it annoys you, try using a
newsreader like OE.

Microsoft has not announced which new programs they will offer at RC1
release. There may well be new preview programs at that time but there is
no information yet.

 

[Jeff Warren]

I would assume there will be a way to sign up for the RC1 release when it
nears. They want this software in as many hands as possible.

On another note, how much does a Star Diagnosis machine go for?