Microsoft To Kill Windows 7 Beta Februrary 10th 216
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."
Re:Oops (Score:2, Interesting)
Unfortunately, that's what they said about Vista, too.
No, what's unfortunate is not that Microsoft feels this way, but that KDE feels this way. Microsoft has a beta product that people are generally happy with (Windows 7). KDE has a released product that many people hate (KDE 4.x). I don't need to say that KDE is open source, and that things were reversed just one year ago, and all the other obvious trolls. I do however want to remind us that KDE doesn't really need users at all [kdedevelopers.org]. I have been using KDE for years and I've stuck with the 3.x branch while the 4.x branch is developing, but more and more often I feel pushed away. If it is simple usability reports that they are not interested in [kde.org] or other little things that add up in the KDE community. I think that they are really forgetting what is KDE [what-is-what.com].
I repeat that I am a KDE user, but as KDE 3.x is being made obsolete I am looking for a new place to go. it's a shame because I love Kate, Konqueror, and Kontact especially. KDE 4.2 betas are beautiful and work like they should (Aaron Siego is a genius, what he has done with Plasma). But the developer community is scaring me away.
Re:The world is their test site (Score:3, Interesting)
Why have Beta when you can charge people for the first two or three test versions?
True. Oh wait... they already did that with Windows Vista, didn't they? I believe this is just a "refined" version of Vista with some more bells ,whistles and yet another new skin/look.
~Zwergin
Re:bad headline (Score:5, Interesting)
Having a Beta, I would say it is better then Vista. It actually looks and feels more Linux a Linux KDE system. I can't really judge how much faster it is as I am only running it on a Virtual Machine, although it runs much better then Vista.
I would really suggest that as many people who hates windows to beta test Windows 7. And report the bugs or issues to Microsoft.
As 3 results will come out.
1. Delay the program for a decade again creating more hatred towards Microsoft for not having a good version. Thus creating more interests in Linux and Macs.
2. They will fix the problems and actually make it a really good OS. Thus we have a good OS to use that is PHB Friendly. As well enough to scare the Linux and Mac community a bit to get more innovation out of them, as both sides have been slacking off for a few years.
3. They will ignore our anwsers and nothing will happen in this case you can say I've told you so.
Re:Why? (Score:3, Interesting)
Microsoft is going to leverage that PR success by creating the illusion that windows 7 is a scarce resource and thus raising the price for it. This, of course, will result in a massive retail failure for the company. If MS just charged $80 for the full OS which can be deployed any number of ways, they could once again own the remainder of the market share.
What happens when beta ends? (Score:2, Interesting)
When installing windows 7, does the software uninstall any defunct Vista components? If it doesn't, can I reformat my computer and use the the Windows 7 install (once I burn it to DVD) as a fresh install? I would like to try Windows 7 on my laptop but just have some questions.
Re:Oops (Score:3, Interesting)
KDE 4 lets you use KDE 3 and older QT apps just fine. You can use GTK apps just fine.
I suspect you were using the horribly broken Kubuntu packages. The Kubuntu guys didn't know to package KDE properly and made a mess of things.
And frankly, if the brand new, still being developed KDE 4 wasn't good enough for you, why not stick with KDE 3, or try Gnome?
I don't get going to Windows for most people. Then again, I do actually prefer Windows to Gnome. That's just me.
I also recommend you check out KDE 4.2 on openSUSE in a VM.