Windows 7 public beta released

[scooby]

i have a copy and uploaded rars to a online file share. if you want the links, drop me a PM. (there are 25 files but download speeds are good)

[NickFitz]

Informed comment on this important release

[thelace]

So, there's only me here that has some love for Windows 95?

[pmeswani]

So, there's only me here that has some love for Windows 95?

I love Windows version 2. It was the nuts.

[scooby]

MS didnt expect the interest and are nowing adding more servers! do you think its because people think Vista is tulip and want to move on ASAP?

This gives more weight to why P2P should be used for distribution! you only need one server to start!! (altho they wouldnt have the control to limit the amount of downloads then...)

EDIT: Already have the 32bit version and currently downloading the x64 from P2P now! My Sunday might disappear!!

[voodooflux]

This gives more weight to why P2P should be used for distribution! you only need one server to start!! (altho they wouldnt have the control to limit the amount of downloads then...)

Absolutely - I'd like to see more software vendors make use of torrents. Perhaps it's the inherent association with piracy that is off-putting to them.

[d000hg]

Well yes, that's one reason. But also...

- They can't decide how many copies can be downloaded
- Users can't tell which are genuine copies easily, since hacked versions already get torrented
- Can they take the file OFF the torrent if they want to?

[voodooflux]

Well yes, that's one reason. But also...

- They can't decide how many copies can be downloaded
- Users can't tell which are genuine copies easily, since hacked versions already get torrented
- Can they take the file OFF the torrent if they want to?

Private trackers perhaps?

[VectraMan]

Let's be honest: P2P exists to make anti-piracy efforts harder. I'm not convinced it's really a good solution for anything, especially as most of us have much lower upload speeds than downloads. The likes of Microsoft (and the BBC for that matter) ought to just provide enough bandwidth to do things properly, IMO.

What would make more sense is proper use of multicast and local caching. If 100 people in your town download Windows v7 Beta, then there's no need for 100 seperate IP connections to an MS webserver.

[VectraMan]

I've got it installed under Virtual Box. As I suspected, it's turned off all the Aero stuff (so you don't get previews of the apps when you alt+tab etc.).

Seems to work well enough. The docking thing is good, the new taskbar is perhaps less good for more advanced users and better for numpties. It took me a while to work out how to open two copies of an application, but I can see that for a user, say for example, my Dad would find it easier as he gets stressed out by having more than one window of anything.

But mostly, it looks remarkably like Vista.