Windows 7 Release Candidate now available

While various builds of Microsoft's next operating system, Windows 7, have been making the rounds of several less-than-legal download sites, users who signed up for the original Win7 beta have been stuck with the original beta build. That's all about to change, as the Redmond giant has just made its release candidate build available for any and all who could want it.

Users who are interested in the new RC build can use any keys they may have gotten from one of the original Windows 7 builds or request a new one. Both 32- and 64-bit versions are available. The updated version includes several improvements, additional features and bug fixes over the old 7000 build. Many more programs work without crashing and for those that do still have issues, the built-in troubleshooter does a better job of coming up with solutions.

Microsoft has said that the public will have access to the Win7 RC downloads until "at least through July." It should be noted that while the RC build of Win7 is usable free of charge until March 1st, 2010, the beta build of the OS expires on August 1st of this year, and the system will begin shutting down every two hours starting on July 1st. From the website:

"Remember expiration dates: Please plan ahead for the Beta and RC expiration dates. To avoid interruption, you’ll need to rebuild your test machine using a valid version of Windows before the software expires. Windows will notify you that the expiration process is beginning and two weeks later your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. The Beta expires on August 1, 2009, and bi-hourly shutdowns will begin July 1, 2009. The RC will expire June 1, 2010, and the bi-hourly shutdowns will begin on March 1, 2010. In both cases, you’ll need to rebuild your test PC to replace the OS and reinstall all your programs and data."

 

40%, 30 minutes to go

 

10% @ about 1MB/s

 

Whoops. It's the latter. My bad!

 

Already downloaded it and installed in my lappy! Trying to allocate some time to explore it deeply.

 

Not that I harbour a grudge for MS or anything, but Microsoft is possibly the most annoying software maker that I know of. They would even know how to make Gandhi lose his temper.

 

Really? What do you expect them to do, let people use it forever, free of charge, and never have to buy a retail copy?

 

I don't understand why people expected to be able to use it forever for free. When you beta test a game, they don't generally give you the final version--you have to purchase it. This is the same thing.

 

Of course I don't expect that, I was merely remarking that Microsoft really knows how to implement annoying software. That's all.

 

How is it annoying? You get to use it for free for several months. The 2-hour shutdown is infinitely better than simply ending usage entirely; some users would have no way to get their data backed up, as an example.

 

QFT. What if you had a lot going on when it initially expired and you forgot the date? I think this solution is far superior to just having a hard and fast date when you can no longer use your OS.

 

Everyone seems to be misunderstanding or making implicit assumptions about my first clear comment. I will repeat myself one last time:

1) I don't expect beta or trial software terms to last indefinitely; people with such expectations are either very naive or very ignorant about software and business.

2) I am just amused by how well and creatively Microsoft comes up with annoying software, however justified it is.

3) Read number 2) and 3) again before replying, pleeease.

 

If the software is following expected behavior, what makes it annoying?

 

Finally, now I can upgrade from 7700!

 

You mean 7077.

 

Er yeah, thats what I meant.

 

phase 1: give free
phase 2: "explore the addiction"

hum.. were have i seen this before?...

 

In the old days I would have jumped on this. It would be fun to play with Windows 7, but Vista works great, and I have no desire to rebuild my system not once, but TWICE in less than the next year.

I remember when I used to rebuild my system ever 6 months...with NT I go YEARS :lol:

 

7 > Vista by a mile.

 

There's some interface improvements (or at least changes) and what not, but it's basically the same OS.

 

Performance wise:

7 rc/beta > vista (aka 7 alpha)

by a Mile, LOL.

 

Not it's not. How is it supposedly better? It's the same basic OS...

 

HOW is it supposedly faster? In performance tests XP, Vista, and 7 are all practically the same. For games, 7 and Vista are actually faster than XP, though everything is undetectable without benchmarks. Sure it's slightly faster on average, but nothing drastic that its going to be noticeable. Certainly not that "by a mile" claim.

It seems like a nice upgrade if you're still on XP (though if you're still on XP you probably need a new system first), but if you've already got Vista I don't see any pressing need to upgrade right away.

 

Windows 7 is much less of a resource hog than .Vista...much less...and it's much, much more stable...as Indrek said give the thing a shot and you'll see the difference. I've been running Win. 7 7000 (the very first beta) as my primary OS at work for the past 2 - 3 months or so up until now and I have never had any issues to talk about. The frickin beta is better than .Vista could ever dream of being. IMO XP > .Vista and 7 > both!

Give 7 a try!