Oh, right, the Windows 7 Release Candidate is also available today |
Register here for our next TechFlash Live networking event, March 23, featuring an expert panel discussing the future of online advertising.
Oh, right, the Windows 7 Release Candidate is also available today
Pink slips aren't all Microsoft is giving out today. In what could go down as one of the most bittersweet moments in the company's history, news of the latest job cuts was accompanied by the public availability of the Windows 7 Release Candidate -- one of the final big milestones for a product that has the potential to revive Microsoft's flagship brand.
Here's the page for downloading the release candidate, with instructions and all the usual caveats about running pre-release software.
"From a features and capabilities point of view, Windows 7 is essentially done," writes ZDNet's Ed Bott in a review of the upcoming operating system. "It’s all over but the process of hunting down bugs, many of them associated with OEM hardware and drivers. In a bygone era, code this stable and well tested might have been released as a 1.0 product, followed six months later by a service pack. Not this year. Microsoft is treating Windows 7 as the world’s most ambitious shareware release ever."
Also see coverage by Paul Thurrott and BetaNews.
For the record, Microsoft still isn't saying when the finished version of Windows 7 will be released, and the company is facing increasing pressure to go public with the date. "With the release candidate for Windows 7 now publicly available, it's entirely reasonable for businesses and consumers to want to know when the final release will be available," CNet's Ina Fried writes today.
Previously: Microsoft confident, cautious as near-final Windows 7 is released and Windows 7's new backgrounds.
About Todd Bishop
Todd Bishop is co-founder and managing editor of TechFlash. He has covered Microsoft and the technology industry for more than five years, most recently as a daily newspaper reporter and blogger based in Seattle.
READ FULL BIOGRAPHYRecent Sponsor Posts
Technology Tax Planning – Did You Take The Deduction?
Technology companies require professional advisors who can assist in all aspects of the business. The BDO Technology Practice provides a full range of services tailored to help address the changing needs of domestic and international companies. In addition to core audit and tax services, BDO professionals can assist technology companies with:
· Revenue recognition
· Business combination accounting
· R&D tax credits
· Compensation and benefits
· Business valuations
Backed by 38 national offices and an international network in 110 countries, we have the domestic and global footprint to serve growing technology companies. Contact sphilpott@bdo.com (audit partner), mreeves@bdo.com (audit partner), psmith@bdo.com (tax partner), tzambito@bdovaluation.us.com (valuation), tfiscus@bdo.com, Director, 206.624.2020
Join the Microsoft WebsiteSpark program and get software, support and visibility – at no upfront cost. You’ll benefit from fast and easy access to current Microsoft development tools, platform technology and server products including Visual Studio, Expression Studio, Silverlight, Windows Web Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 Web.
Seattle-based Adhost is a WebsiteSpark hosting partner providing dedicated servers with free Windows Web Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 licensing for three years to Web developers enrolled in WebsiteSpark. Servers are located in our secure data center with SAS 70 Type II certification, 24x7 technical support and 24x7 client access.
Job Listings
- Medical Transcriptionist 2
- State of Washington Department of Corrections
- Director, Digital Systems - External - 712211
- Microsoft Corporation
- Software Development Engineer, Senior - SQL Base Engine - 712168
- Microsoft Corporation
- Research Analyst: Digital / Connected Consumer Research
- Gartner, Inc.
- Principal Design Engineer, Global Foundation Services - 705529
- Microsoft Corporation
