here are some, strange, news regarding the beta: http://blogs.msdn.com/tdragger/...
it seems that the ones who expect to D/L the beta from torrent and this kind of thing may be disapointed...
I'm rather surprised that the guy from M$ doesn't seem to know more about the beta release.
another thing I'm wondering: let's say that the beta won't be released before september (fair assumption...) and FSX is due to release, let's say, beginning of novembre, it gives only 2 months for users to feedback M$ and M$ to make the appropriate tweakings... and even less if we consider the time to burn the DVDs, pack them, and send them to dealers all around the world....
the beta has to be pretty close to the final version otherwise....
my 2 cents
vince