Microsoft To Kill Windows 7 Beta Februrary 10th

mamaphoenix writes "Paul McDougall of InformationWeek reports Computer enthusiasts who want to get their hands on the trial version of Microsoft's next operating system have just two more weeks to do so. The company says it will end availability of Windows 7 Beta on Feb. 10. There are a couple of loopholes, however. Users who started to download the OS before that date will have until Feb. 12 to complete the process. Also, Microsoft will continue to distribute product keys beyond Feb. 12 to users who have previously downloaded Windows 7 Beta but have yet to obtain a key. 'We are at a point where we have more than enough beta testers and feedback coming in to meet our engineering needs, so we are beginning to plan the end of general availability for Windows 7 Beta,' said Brandon LeBlanc, Microsoft's in-house Windows blogger, in a post Friday. Microsoft will post warnings on its Web site that the download program for Windows 7 is about to end starting Tuesday. A final version of Windows 7, Microsoft's follow-up to Windows Vista, is expected to be available in late 2009 or early 2010."

Comments

The world is their test site

[gelfling]

Why have Beta when you can charge people for the first two or three test versions?

Wow that's a misleading headline

[shoptroll]

Shouldn't the word "distribution" be somewhere in there?

Why?

[Ckwop]

Given that Microsoft has had a massive PR success with Windows 7 beta, why not just let anyone and everyone download it?

A bigger BETA test is better for Microsoft. More people using the Windows 7 beta means that more more bugs will be reported, it will lead to more positive press about the product and that will probably translate to more sales.

So I'll ask the question: Why kill downloads of the beta?

What purpose does it serve other than disenfranchising people who are hearing about Windows 7 through their geek friends?