MAYDAY! Windows 7 is here
- TAGS:Acer, Microsoft, MSFT, RC1, Windows 7
- IT TOPICS:Applications, Desktop Apps, Emerging Technology, Windows
In Friday's IT Blogwatch, Richi Jennings watches the early reviews of Windows 7 and hears rumors of the final release date. Not to mention Vince, remixed and auto-tuned...
Previously in IT Blogwatch:
Joshua Topolsky gives us an overview review:
Windows 7 Release Candidate 1 has been officially handed out to MSDN and TechNet subscribers today ... we've taken the new build for a bit of a spin around the block ... When you get RC1 in your hands, it's not going to feel drastically different than the previous beta. There are UI tweaks and tucks, and some functionality added.
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One thing we can say for sure is that it felt snappier and less buggy than the earlier versions ... you get the distinct impression that Redmond's gotten a jolt of new blood -- if not in staff, then certainly in mindset ... Windows 7 scales lower and higher much better than Vista ... A valiant effort from Microsoft ... shows that the company does understand it's burned some bridges throughout the last three years ... a big step for them both in technique and tone.
Nick Wingfield points out other changes since the beta:
There are a number of new features in the latest version of Windows 7, but the most eye-catching is–drum roll, please–wacky wallpaper!That’s right, the “release candidate” version of Windows 7 that Microsoft made available Thursday has some of the most visually arresting background images ever to ship with a piece of software. They make all the pretty pictures of bamboo, flowers and fish that ship with Apple’s Macintosh computers look hopelessly stuffy by comparison. Windows 7 wallpaper images, including some fairly conventional ones, have been posted on the Web; here’s one collection on Flickr.
Todd Bishop has another surprise in store:
Microsoft is also releasing a beta version of the new Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 in conjunction with the release candidate.
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Microsoft is still declining to give a release date for Windows 7, or even to confirm that it will be released in time for the holidays ... It's highly unusual for Microsoft to keep the date under wraps this far into the Windows development process. The company wants to be certain Windows 7 will be ready before it goes public with a date.
Kevin C. Tofel can't wait:
I’m thrilled to see the Windows XP Mode ... It’s meant to break the dreaded legacy application chains that have bound the company for far too long, in my opinion.I’m also looking forward to the finalized versions of the touch features. In fact, those functions will give my fingers a workout on the old faithful Samsung Q1UP since that’s on the only touchscreen PC I have these days. I’ll also put Windows 7 RC on my MSI Wind in a dual-boot situation with Ubuntu 9.04 to check the parity levels. Go download, go!
Chris Hall suggests a GA date:
Acer has confirmed that Windows 7 will be available pre-loaded on their new all-in-one Z5600 PC from the 23 October 2009, not by the end of January 2010 as Microsoft has been previously suggesting.
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Acer also confirmed to us that any Vista-based models purchased in the 30 days prior to this date will be eligible for Microsoft's free upgrade program.
Accurate? Who can say? Matt Buchanan can:
We're somewhat dubious of that specific date—it seems a little too specific, a little too early—but we're pretty comfortable with the idea of Windows 7 launching by fall, given that RC1 went out to MSDN subscribers today, with public at large getting a crack on May 5 and the fact that most people expected it to be out in July.
And Jack Schofield has the backstory:
Acer, one of the world's three biggest PC manufacturers, held a press conference in London this afternoon ... and upstaged itself by appearing to pre-announce Windows 7 ... "Have you just given away the launch date for Windows 7?" asked ZD-Net's David Meyer, amid much laughter.
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Seems a reasonable bet that it will appear before October 23 ... It could, in fact, be out 6-8 weeks before that ... Microsoft will be calculating not just when Windows 7 is ready to ship, but how soon PC suppliers will be able to deliver Windows 7 machines to [retail].
[Confused? Here's the sensational original infomercial.]
Previously in IT Blogwatch:
- Apple: chipping away at its suppliers
- DoJ reads Google the rule book
- iPhones don't work, say researchers
- ...more
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Richi Jennings is an independent analyst/adviser/consultant, specializing in blogging, email, and spam. A 24 year, cross-functional IT veteran, he is also an analyst at Ferris Research. You can follow him on Twitter, pretend to be Richi's friend on Facebook, or just use boring old email: blogwatch@richi.co.uk.
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