Well, I got a little lazy and wasn't able to keep up on my one blog per month standard. So this month I decided to drop two blogs in for the month. Who knows? I could add a third ...
To support my presentation for this coming week's CEBUG meeting, I thought it would be best to reinforce some of my comments for those who were at the meeting and wanted some of the links, and specific information I gave in the presentation.
First, if you are going to install the Windows 7 RC (W7RC), keep in mind that this is a limited time dependent release. That is, it will run without any nagging reminder screens, etc. to purchase until March 1, 2010. After that time, you will experience bi hourly shutdowns until June 1, 2010 at which point W7RC will shutdown permanently.
Second, if you are still running the Windows 7 beta, that will start the bi-hourly shutdown on July 1, 2009 and shutdown for good on August 1, 2009. I recommend that you install W7RC now and get the extra nine plus months of use.
Third, remember this is software in development and is suseptible to crashes, etc. If you can deal with that, then by all means, go ahead and use it as you wish. I would still have a machine close by on which you keep all important files, etc. I use two machines, one for daily use, and the second is for testing. I share folders between the two machines to share files.
Fourth, if you really want to try out W7RC, go to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/dd353205.aspx?ITPID=mscomsl and download it in either the 32bit or 64 bit version. A product key will be issued when you begin the download. You can also use your beta key if you have one.
Finally, the beta release and certainly this release candidate are both the most stable releases I've seen in operating systems in some time. That doesn't mean however, that you should throw all your eggs in one basket and run this as your main operating system on which your entire life, bank accounts, business, etc. are kept. Also keep in mind that it is in your interest and certainly Microsoft's interest that you purchase Windows 7 when it becomes available probably this late summer and certainly this fall. It's okay to delay the purchase, but keep in mind that if you don't, you'll have to unstall W7RC and reinstall the previous operating system you used previously.
I would recommend that if you are using W7RC and you decide to purchase the published version, you should backup all your files and settings, reformat the hard drive and then install the published final version at that time. Don't try to upgrade from the release candidate to the final version!
I'd also add that if you have machines with less than a 1 Gig processor and less than 1 Gig of memory, you are going to suffer from machine slowness if it can be installed at all. I have a couple of machines around here that have less than 1 Gig of memory and are not candidates for either Vista or W7RC. You will be stuck with XP and frankly there is still life in the old girl yet. Keep in mind that as operating systems and hardware evolve, so, too, will the application software, so plan your future with XP accordingly.
Anyway, have some fun with this release. It certainly looks like a good release from my early tests.
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