The more I look at listen to Windows Vista, the more I like its new sound mixer.

It really is refreshing to crank up some music without also cranking up the annoying sounds from an IM program. Being able to control sounds individually is a good thing.

And although the fuss and secrecy over the sounds (created by Robert Fripp) was ridiculous, the sounds themselves are very soft and subtle and cool in a smooth jazz kind of way.

With Windows Vista, Microsoft is about to release the most widely distributed piece of shareware ever.

Oh, I know they’re not calling it shareware. In fact, Section 8 of the Vista license agreement specifically says you may not “lend the software.” But there’s nothing that technically prevents making copies of the Vista DVD, and you can install that copy on any computer without a product ID, with no activation required for 30 days. At the end of the 30 days, your copy of Windows Vista will shift into “reduced functionality mode,” at which point you can wipe it out and start over, or pay Microsoft or one if its partners for a license.

That sure sounds like “try before you buy,” doesn’t it?

I certainly don’t recommend this strategy to anyone. But I won’t be surprised if a lot of people, especially enthusiasts, “borrow” a copy of Vista and try it out for 30 days. Microsoft might be betting that when the month is up, enough people will be pleased enough that they’ll pay up.

Well, sort of. It’s been released to manufacturing, and will be available for retail sale and on new PCs at the end of January.

Does it work? What’s in it for you? Is it worth it? I tackle all three of those questions over at ZDNet in Will Windows Vista be worth the wait?

I’ve also got a detailed image gallery, if you want to see exactly what the final RTM build looks like.