Windows 7

I downloaded Windows 7 Beta over the weekend and loaded it onto 2 PCs, a Toshiba laptop and a Dell desktop. The download ( and subsequent burning to a DVD) allows loading on up to three PC's with the same key. All the reviews , so far, have been very positive regarding this beta version. It's the Ultimate version and is good til Aug 9, then automatically stops working. I'm running within Windows 7 as I type this.

For all you geeks, I loaded it as a dual boot option on a second partition along with the existing Vista Home Premium I already have. Suffice it to say, I am very impressed with it so far. This is the most complete beta version I've ever seen. It's very stable and just a tweak or two away from "gold" code. It loads noticeably faster than Vista. The new task bar is to die for. It trumps Apple's dock (task bar) in several ways. There's plenty of eye candy to go around. It comes with IE-8 as part of the package. A lot of the fluff that Vista came with on the default install has been deleted from Win 7. The fluff (mostly Windows Live apps: IM, mail, etc.) is still available for free download from Microsoft if you're so inclined.

The loading process went very well, relatively quick, painless, and everything just worked right up front. Several of my programs have worked fine with nary a hitch. I'm downloading Open Office from Sun as I type this. Microsoft needs this to be a "home run" to get out from under the specter related to Vista horror stories. Rumors are saying Microsoft is aiming for a fall '09 launch (hence the August expiration for this beta version) in time to make the Xmas buying season this year.

Time will tell....