While Windows 7 RC1 is now available for download to MSDN and TechNet subscribers. Broader public availability will begin on May 5 on the Microsoft Windows 7 site. 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.
*New to the Windows 7 RC are advancements such as:
- Remote Media Streaming: to enable highly secure, remote Internet access to home-based digital media libraries from another Windows 7-based PC outside the home
- Windows XP Mode (beta): to allow 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. As part of today’s announcement, Microsoft is releasing the beta of Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC.
- 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 downloadable tools that will help people determine their ability to upgrade from their Windows XP-based or Windows Vista-based PC to Windows 7.
- 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.
- Direct Access: This feature enables IT managers to provide mobile users with reliable and security-enhanced access to corporate network resources when they are on the Internet, without having to initiate a VPN connection.
- BranchCache: Delivered jointly by Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, this feature enables IT pros to decrease the time branch office users spend waiting to download files from remote servers by caching the previously accessed content locally in a branch’s network.
- BitLocker and BitLocker To Go: This helps ensure that sensitive data is protected across PCs and removable storage devices.
*The minimum system requirements for Windows 7 include: 1GHz 32-bit (x86) processor, 1 GB of RAM (32-bit), 16 GB of available disk space (32-bit) and DirectX 9 graphics device with Windows Display Driver Model 1.0
***First Look:
First of all there are some changes have happened to Windows 7 RC1 that made it different from January‘s Beta version. Microsoft has released Win 7CR1 without some features that were seen in beta version such as no providing the Bluetooth audio-class drivers by Win 7, and leaving out the ability of dragging and dropping folders into Windows 7 Libraries. MS also has added the “clarification about the Windows Easy Transfer feature for synchronizing data between PCs” according to PC world. This feature will work only on the PCs which run on Windows 7.
Laptop Magazine had its hand on Windows 7 RC1 and has reviewed this OS briefly. The folks there think that:
- Win 7 is the most stable OS of all
- The release version of IE8 is preinstalled on Win 7 RC. This fixes the problem of the early beta of IE8 pre-installed on Win 7 Beta which can not be upgraded and is very slow. The new one is more stable with better speed.
- The new XP Mode feature specifically helps the business users who use the software tools are not compatible with win 7 or the IT manage who have top deal and support with XP. This facility gives a free licensed Win XP to these two sorts of consumers.
- “In RC1 the parent folder is always visible in the address bar” which was not always possible in Windows 7 beta
- Removing the useful feature of “the Bluetooth audio-class built-in drivers” from RC1 is not appreciated.
- Alt+Tab is a small added feature to RC1 to help to switch among windows. “That’s an extension of the “peek” function”.
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