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Microsoft Leaks Windows 7 RC Date — Before May 5
CWmike writes "Microsoft will deliver a release candidate of Windows 7 in about two weeks, the company's Web site revealed Saturday. According to a page posted on Microsoft's partner program site, Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) may be available to paying subscribers to Microsoft's developer and IT services before May 5. Partners will be allowed to download the release candidate on that date, the first Tuesday of the month. 'Partners: If you have a subscription to MSDN or TechNet, you can download Windows 7 RC now,' the page read Saturday afternoon. 'Otherwise, you can download Windows 7 RC starting May 5, 2009.' The link to the download, however, shunted users to the TechNet download page, which did not list Windows 7 RC as one of the available files. This is the second time in just over three weeks that Microsoft's Web site has leaked information about Windows 7 RC. Accidental, or buzz-builder?"
The only reason to run Windows 7 is to know what the non-free software world is doing but you can just watch online videos to find that out. I recently did this and here are my impressions in bullet form:
* Windows 7 is a lot like Vista
* next desktop background feature is kind of cool but i saw it in kde4
* new task bar - makes it easier to switch to mac and more annoying to actually switch tasks using a mouse
* control panel still in the new harder to deal with style but not sure if it still loads piecemeal like Vista
* Libraries are introduced as another way to segment your data in an annoying and OS-locked-in way.
Since when is a press release a "leak"? What, is this British intelligence trying to sex it up a little?
Of course you know, this means war
Todos mis movimientos están friamente calculados
I've been considering using Windows 7 when I buy a new laptop later this year, but I have a serious question:
How the hell do Windows users backup their files?
I haven't used Windows properly since I was a kid, and I didn't care about backups back then. Nowadays I use rsync every day to mirror files onto an external USB drive and over the network. Once a week I do an incremental backup with rdiff-backup.
Are there any basic, robust tools like these for Windows?
Also, what's the new "Power Shell" like? Is it like bash? Can you run curses programs yet, like mutt? Or would I have to learn a GUI like Thunderbird?
I've been on Linux for so long, I'm actually finding it harder than I imagined to see how I can work with Windows again. I tried Vista and it was actually kinda slick, so I wouldn't mind it on my laptop. It seems like a Macbook would be easier though.
Let's hope they fix the bug in the Program Compatibility Assistance that installers that don't affect certain registry keys in add/remove to have an error. It basically kills off lots of updaters, plugin installers and PortableApps.com Installers:
http://portableapps.com/node/18540
Portable versions of Firefox, GIMP, LibreOffice, etc
But the first OSX made Vista's problems look like first day of school jitters.
As a user of both, I assure you: no it didn't.
Comment of the year
because everyone i've seen with a new pc has vista
And they're all miserable, right? I've seen people come into work who have been suckered into buying these leviathan laptops with Vista, and they are constantly having problems, and regret the purchase.
It's probably the people who have actually bought Vista who would be most tempted to switch, rather than those still on XP. Of course, having just bought their white elephant laptop, they might not have the funds to do so yet.
... and then they built the supercollider.
Thank you for pointing out the other part of this strategy; Microsoft continue to bully and threaten retailers and OEMs into only offering their customers Windows. It stems the flow of deserters somewhat. Things have changed to some degree in recent years though. Some retailers DO offer Linux options on some models, even if you do have to jump through hoops to find them. Netbooks have given Linux a platform it never had years ago. Vista is seen by many as a turd and people want anything but Vista. Linux's poster child Ubuntu IS starting to make it's way into the mainstream as a credible alternative to the pain and discomfort imposed upon PC use by Microsoft.
What we see is dependent on our circles of living. Many people are trying to avoid having to buy a new PC right now because Microsoft have refused to allow them to buy XP with it. They will hold off if they can until Windows 7, or if they need a new PC before then, they will look at alternatives. To my knowledge the XP downgrade racket was only offered to corporations, not regular home users. Even this is uncertain with cut off dates followed by extensions and exceptions. Even those who are desperate enough to pay extra for an old model to avoid the current one will still be listed as a Vista sale, even if it leaves the store with XP installed.
Yes Microsoft still have a HUGE monopoly on desktops which they will abuse to cut out any competition but they Vista has cost them.
estimate 1: nt4 (900 days), 2000 (1200 days) and xp (600 days), at around 1000 days of development. windows 7 started around oct 2006. that puts rtm at jun-09. (vista was about 2000 days, but lets overlook that)
estimate 2: xp and vista both had about 2-3 months from rc to rtm. that puts rtm at jul/aug.