Windows 7 RC News & Confusion

[LarryFlowers]

The Microsoft Partners web site https://partner.microsoft.com/US/productssolutions/windows/wiwindows7

is showing a link to download the Windows 7 RC from the TechNet web site. However the link only leads to the current Beta version of the software and I see no sign of the RC version.

The announcement states that it is available for TechNet and MSDN members now and to the general public beginning MAY 5th 2009.

I will attempt to figure out what is going on and post updates as I figure it out.

[Shades228]

There was a leak of the RC which the alpha testers have. As you stated the main RC will be out on 5/5/09 barring any setbacks.

[LarryFlowers]

Updating this story...

The Windows 7 RC information on the partner web site was in error. The RC has been made available to a snall group, including such companies as Dell and HP.

Looks like the TechNet& MSDN sites will have it on the 5th of May, followed several days later by public availability.

As always though, I will keep an eye out for an earlier release.

[Steve]

Gizmodo has some RC 1 screen shots and talks about 3 features they like: Windows Media streaming over the WAN, a virtual WinXP machine and some very unusual desktop backgrounds! More here (http://i.gizmodo.com/5226696/windows-7-release-candidate-1s-best-surprise-new-features?skyline=true&s=i). /steve

http://gizmodo.com/assets/images/gallery/4/2009/04/medium_3471255763_0caf957233_o.jpg

http://gizmodo.com/assets/images/gallery/4/2009/04/thumb1280x1280_3471253029_f49c8dbd19_o.jpg

[Steve]

Maybe tablet PC's can finally get off the ground, courtesy of Windows 7? We tested them on and off for 18 years, for my last employer. Along with speech recognition, it was one of the "promising" technologies we revisited every couple of years. /steve

http://i.gizmodo.com/5227522/windows-7-tablet-capabilities-make-tablet-pcs-and-you-smarter

[njblackberry]

Every Tablet I've used was underpowered. Great idea - lousy execution... Since my experiences with Windows 7 have been very positive, good software may help an uneven design.