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Windows 7 RC – Available Now & Packed Full of Features

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The Release Candidate (RC) of the highly anticipated Windows 7 operating system is now available for download to MSDN and TechNet subscribers here.  As per my last post, broader public availability will begin May 6 (NZ time) on the Microsoft Download Center here.

The RC milestone is a result of feedback from millions of customers and partners around the world. It indicates the operating system is entering the final phases of development and is ready for partners to develop new applications, device drivers and services, and ready for IT pros to evaluate Windows 7 and examine how it will operate in their environment.

With Windows 7, customers will have access to the broadest array of software and hardware options the industry has to offer, and we are committed to delivering tools and support that enhance software compatibility as well as ease deployment and migration concerns for businesses and consumers alike. Customers also will benefit from the strong industry and partner support of Windows 7.

In addition to the features I discussed in a previous post, the RC comes with some new features, such as Remote Media Streaming, Windows XP Mode (beta) and the upcoming beta of the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor:

Remote Media Streaming. Enables highly secure, remote Internet access to home-based digital media libraries from another Windows 7-based PC outside the home.

Windows XP Mode. Utilizing Windows Virtual PC, Windows XP Mode allows Windows 7 users to run many Windows XP productivity applications, launched right from the Windows 7 desktop. Windows XP Mode will be available to Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate customers via download or, for the best experience, pre-installed directly on new PCs. 

The beta of Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC is being released with the RC.

For larger businesses where management is important to reduce the total cost of ownership, Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) within MDOP adds management to Windows Virtual PC including centralized policy, administration experience and deployment.

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. To help enable a smooth transition, Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor will help people analyze their PCs in preparation for a Windows 7 upgrade.

Available soon, Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor will be a downloadable tool that will help people determine their ability to upgrade from their Windows XP-based or Windows Vista-based PC to Windows 7.

In addition, a number of enhancements were made to existing features based on feedback from beta testers, including the following:

Refined navigation. Several enhancements to the Windows taskbar, JumpLists and search make navigation and finding exactly what you want much easier.

Internet Explorer 8. InPrivate browsing in Internet Explorer 8 prevents browsing history, temporary Internet files, form data, cookies, and usernames and passwords from being retained by the browser. With Windows 7, you can start an InPrivate session straight from the JumpList. You can also open a new tab from the JumpList.

Windows Touch. Controlling the computer by touching a touch-enabled screen or monitor is a core Windows 7 user experience. Improvements in the RC include several Windows Touch updates, including the ability to drag, drop and select items with touch, even inside Web sites that scroll both horizontally and vertically.

System Requirements for Windows 7

With the RC, we are also providing guidance on the minimum system requirements for Windows 7, showing that Windows 7 will work on a broader array of hardware than any other release of Windows at launch:

  • 1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
  • 1 GB of RAM (32-bit)/2 GB of RAM (64-bit)
  • 16 GB of available disk space (32-bit)/20 GB (64-bit)
  • DirectX 9 graphics device with Windows Display Driver Model 1.0 or higher driver

So, to recap the RC is available now for download to MSDN and TechNet subscribers here, and broader public availability will begin May 6 (NZ time) on the Microsoft Download Center here.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    At TechEd 2009 in the US today, we announced that we expect Windows 7 to RTM in time for the holiday

  • Anonymous
    June 18, 2009
    Looking forward to test this new software. Thank you.

  • Anonymous
    June 18, 2009
    Looking forward to test this new software. Thank you.

  • Anonymous
    August 29, 2009
    Looking forward to testing it out. See what the hype  is about

  • Anonymous
    August 29, 2009
    can't wait to try out Windows 7 thanks so much