Microsoft Windows 7 continues its march towards a 2009 release. As we mentioned in an earlier post, “Windows 7 – Initial Installations and Impressions”, Microsoft has the pedal to the metal in moving Windows 7, the successor to Windows Vista, into full release later this year. Originally slated to launch in late 2009 most evidence, including beta release schedules, testing, reviews, and popular rumours, indicate that Windows 7 may arrive sooner rather than later.
Windows 7 Release Candidate Version Due in May?
There are many signs that Microsoft may deliver a Release Candidate version of Windows 7 in May. For those who may be unfamiliar with some of the common terminology of software development a Release Candidate is, barring any newly discovered significant bugs or malfunctions, the final test version of a software product before it is considered final (gold) and released to manufacturing for shipment, sales and perhaps most important, installation on new PCs.
Based on the potential delivery of a Release Candidate version in May, many believe that Windows 7 could ship as early as September or possibly October. Given the continued lukewarm, some might say hostile, reception that Vista receives, coupled with the numerous positive reviews that Windows 7 garners, many people are looking forward to the arrival of the new version of Windows. This anxious group includes computer manufacturers, resellers, developers, support organizations and perhaps more than a few Windows Vista users.
Windows 7 – Lighter, Faster, Stronger, More Friendly
In many respects Windows 7 isn’t a radical change from Vista, but is more like a very significant set of enhancements. First and foremost, Windows 7 is much faster and does not have some of the onerous hardware requirements that Vista has. Computer start up (booting), launching programs, and most other tasks run faster in Windows 7 with some tasks running significantly faster.
Windows 7 also introduces some important new navigation and ease-of-use features, along with scores of usability and performance improvements including making the Windows taskbar more customizable and useful. In another significant usability enhancement Windows 7 also cuts down on annoying warnings and nag screens that are much too common in Vista.
Predicting delivery of a software product is always a tricky thing. With a product as complex as an operating system like Windows it becomes even more difficult. After Microsoft’s stumble with Vista the importance of Windows 7 being a strong product upon release has increased significantly. The good news is that most indications point to Microsoft delivering a winner when the new operating system ships. Stay tuned…
