Microsoft Announces Availability of Windows 7 Beta

[Ian]

Woot! The Windows 7 beta will be available for download tomorrow. They already have a listing for the activation keys on the MSDN website but they're not available yet.

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/pres ... S09PR.mspx

In a keynote address at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer announced the beta availability of the Windows 7 operating system as well as the availability of the latest version of the Windows Live, a suite of personal communications services and applications.

“I’m thrilled to announce the availability of the Windows 7 beta, which is on track to deliver simplicity and reliability,” Ballmer said. “Windows 7 and Windows Live are part of an incredible pipeline of consumer technology that is making it easier than ever for people to communicate, share and get more done.”

The beta version of Windows 7, Microsoft’s next-generation PC operating system, can be downloaded today by MSDN, TechBeta and TechNet customers. Consumers who want to test-drive the beta will be able to download it beginning Jan. 9 at http://www.microsoft.com/windows7.

[Ian]

32 and 64 bit versions are now available to the first 2.5 million people.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/eval ... 53205.aspx

[Ian]

New link:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/window ... nload.aspx

[Ian]

Direct links to ISOs.

32-bit: http://download.microsoft.com/download/ ... EN_DVD.iso

64-bit: http://download.microsoft.com/download/ ... EN_DVD.ISO

Neowin posted this on how to get a key:

1. Visit TechNet Downloads, sign in at the top right and let the page load
2. Within the same window copy and paste "https://www.microsoft.com/betaexperience/scripts/gcs.aspx?Product=tn-win7-64-ww&LCID=1033" into the address bar or "https://www.microsoft.com/betaexperience/scripts/gcs.aspx?Product=tn-win7-32-ww&LCID=1033" (64bit key but will work on 32 too, if you get an error refresh a few times)...enjoy the result below (32 bit link seems to work better), whilst stocks last. If you are still having issues try clearing your temp files and deleting all cookies.

[smartin4]

Maybe it's just me, but it seems as if there are only 4 keys that are being used for the 32-bit version. I somehow got 2 different ones yesterday while downloading a copy. Following the last link (https://www.microsoft.com/betaexperienc ... &LCID=1033), I noticed that the key looked similar to one of the ones from yesterday, so I hit refresh, got a new key, so I refreshed a few more times, and it seems to cycle between one of 4 keys.

[dolphinius_rex]

I was at my friend's place last night, and they're running Windows 7 on their HTPC, and I have to say I was generally really impressed. There were a few bugs with RSS feeds and background slideshowing, but overall it's already really tempting me!! Normally I would NEVER consider adopting a new Windows OS before the first couple of service packs. My first experience with Windows was Win98SE, and then I moved to Win2K well after a few service packs had gone by. I only JUST upgraded one of my 3 PCs to WinXP recently (mid last year or so). So considering moving to Windows 7 is a big change for me!!

[SithTracy]

I'll admit... I am hearing good things and it has sparked my interest, but I've got other hobbies and kids... so I'll stick with what works for now. I might consider it when it hits store shelves... I did wait until SP1a for WinXP after using Windows NT/2000 for so long... I did use Win 95/98, but never consider them stable like the NT versions. Not a big gamer other than our damn Wii or pack in the day the Sega Genesis and Madden and NHL (EA Sports)...

[LoneWolf]

Installed the 64-bit beta on my ThinkPad T61 last night on an empty partition for testing. It automatically sets up dual-boot, so that was great. So far, it's been incredibly stable for a beta. I've had a few browser quirks with displaying incorrect font sizes on Lenovo's download pages, but going to Firefox fixed that for me.

It'll take me some time to fully evaluate it, but my first impressions are that it's what Vista should have been.