Well, it doesn't take long.

[MICHAEL]

Of course, they provide the direct links for the
download, too. :-/

http://www.neowin.net/index.php

Windows Vista RC1 Available to the Masses
Posted by Steven Parker 1 hour ago

One member's reaction was "Whooo!!! Thanks!!" Another said "transfer rates are pretty decent, i
am getting 743kb/second i am sure later on the servers are gonna get hammered once the emails
start flowing into inboxes" (source). Yes folks, it's finally here. The moment you've all been
waiting for.. Windows Vista RC1, the same build testers received on Friday.

Microsoft notes on the website: Windows Vista RC1 is available for participants of the Windows
Vista Customer Preview Program. Please go to the Customer Preview Program website to register
and receive a Product Key, which is required to install and activate the software.

For those of you who are brave enough to update: Before upgrading from Beta 2 to RC1, please
install any Critical Updates from Windows Update for Beta 2. Go to Start, All Programs, Windows
Update, and click the "Check for Updates" button.

 

[Sascha Benjamin Jazbec]

Have a look here :

for the german ones.. simple as can be with a graphical Link that refers to
MSFTs Servers

http://www.winfuture.de/vista

that's the way it goes.

Microsoft would be luckier if they would have first sent the mails with
links and use passport/Live ID to control who is downloading.