Windows 7 Beta goes public; Vista soon to retire
Paul Harvey
Issue date: 1/21/09 Section: News
Hot on the heels of Windows Vista, the current consumer grade operating system offered by Microsoft, Microsoft has been hard at work developing the successor to the now infamous operating system.
Windows Vista originally hit store shelves and new computers in January 2007, widely hailed for its new desktop level 3D acceleration and innovative new features designed to made networking easier and security tighter.
Unfortunately for consumers, Microsoft labeling schemes and a poor explanation of minimum requirements skewed the public vision of what Windows Vista required to run. Optimized for multiple cores, 64 bit processors and new standards of RAM, Microsoft confused the public by declaring older computers "Vista Capable" even though they barely met minimum requirements.
While any computer sold today would run Windows Vista smoothly on the hardware it was designed for, Vista's launch and the misconception of compatibility on older hardware convinced the public that Vista was slow and buggy. The under handed and confusing labeling of "Vista Ready" and "Vista Capable" has since gone to court for misleading customers.
Despite luke-warm reviews from the public, Microsoft's ad campaign known as Project Mojave helped to shed the light on the true nature of Vista compared to the foul name it had gotten from word of mouth. By raising the standards of hardware Vista ran smoothly on, consumers with new Vista loaded computers eventually discovered the successor to Windows XP ran just as smoothly as its forbearer.
Fast forward to January 2009 and Microsoft's public debut of Windows 7. In development since the release of Windows Vista, the latest version of windows has just entered public testing phase and is now available to download on Microsoft's website with free registration keys until January 24th. What can users expect from Windows 7? Polish, according to early reviewers and testers.
Windows 7 will in many ways resemble Windows Vista, built upon the same fundamental technologies which have been refined and tweaked by Microsoft over the past few years of listening to Vista feedback and optimizing the core components to run faster and smoother than ever on modern hardware.
Steve Baxter, Peninsula College's Director of Information Technology Services, has been testing out Windows 7 on his machines both at school and at home, and is impressed with that he's seen so far. "It's one of the most complete beta products I've ever seen. I'd be surprised if they didn't release it in time for summer." said Baxter.
Given the option, Baxter has already decided that he would rather move the student computers over to Windows 7 and skip Vista entirely given the chance. At the moment, older hardware and funding restricts Peninsula College from migrating to Windows Vista. In Baxter's opinion, when the hardware is able to take Vista, Windows 7 will be on market and the system of choice.
Students and faculty looking for a free sample of the new operating system need only go to www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/ for information, videos and official beta registration.
Windows Vista originally hit store shelves and new computers in January 2007, widely hailed for its new desktop level 3D acceleration and innovative new features designed to made networking easier and security tighter.
Unfortunately for consumers, Microsoft labeling schemes and a poor explanation of minimum requirements skewed the public vision of what Windows Vista required to run. Optimized for multiple cores, 64 bit processors and new standards of RAM, Microsoft confused the public by declaring older computers "Vista Capable" even though they barely met minimum requirements.
While any computer sold today would run Windows Vista smoothly on the hardware it was designed for, Vista's launch and the misconception of compatibility on older hardware convinced the public that Vista was slow and buggy. The under handed and confusing labeling of "Vista Ready" and "Vista Capable" has since gone to court for misleading customers.
Despite luke-warm reviews from the public, Microsoft's ad campaign known as Project Mojave helped to shed the light on the true nature of Vista compared to the foul name it had gotten from word of mouth. By raising the standards of hardware Vista ran smoothly on, consumers with new Vista loaded computers eventually discovered the successor to Windows XP ran just as smoothly as its forbearer.
Fast forward to January 2009 and Microsoft's public debut of Windows 7. In development since the release of Windows Vista, the latest version of windows has just entered public testing phase and is now available to download on Microsoft's website with free registration keys until January 24th. What can users expect from Windows 7? Polish, according to early reviewers and testers.
Windows 7 will in many ways resemble Windows Vista, built upon the same fundamental technologies which have been refined and tweaked by Microsoft over the past few years of listening to Vista feedback and optimizing the core components to run faster and smoother than ever on modern hardware.
Steve Baxter, Peninsula College's Director of Information Technology Services, has been testing out Windows 7 on his machines both at school and at home, and is impressed with that he's seen so far. "It's one of the most complete beta products I've ever seen. I'd be surprised if they didn't release it in time for summer." said Baxter.
Given the option, Baxter has already decided that he would rather move the student computers over to Windows 7 and skip Vista entirely given the chance. At the moment, older hardware and funding restricts Peninsula College from migrating to Windows Vista. In Baxter's opinion, when the hardware is able to take Vista, Windows 7 will be on market and the system of choice.
Students and faculty looking for a free sample of the new operating system need only go to www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/ for information, videos and official beta registration.
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