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Mark your calendars: Windows 7 RC to go public on May 5

By | April 18, 2009, 12:00pm PDT

Summary: Oops, Microsoft did it again. Someone in Redmond accidentally published a page offering downloads of the Windows 7 release candidate to MSDN and TechNet subscribers. That appears to be a slip-up, but the page also confirms the date when the Windows 7 release candidate will be publicly available.

Oops, Microsoft did it again.

Someone in Redmond accidentally published a page offering downloads of the Windows 7 release candidate to MSDN and TechNet subscribers. Here’s the text that appears in the middle of that page at the Microsoft OEM Partner site:

The link goes to the Windows 7 download page at MSDN, where the only software available today is the Windows 7 beta release (build 7000) from January, along with some updates intended for that beta.

Based on this unintentional announcement, the May 5 date appears to be a solid bet for the public release. (In fact, it appears to be a more specific schedule than last month’s now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t download announcement.) If past patterns hold true, the actual head start for MSDN and TechNet subscribers will be a week or so ahead of that date.

Update: Emil Protalinski at Ars Technica confirms that the download is not imminent:

A few faithful readers got this quote from the Microsoft Online Concierge Chat: “Currently the Windows 7 RC has not been avaiable through the TechNet subscription yet, only the Microsoft OEM partners such as Dell, Siemens are taking part in the RC’s this period of test.”

That matches what I’ve been told from other sources as well.

Update: Several unconfirmed newsgroup posts report that Microsoft Gold Partners who are part of the Technical Adoption Program (TAP) have download access to the release candidate now. 

Update 3: As of approximately 9PM Pacific time, the Microsoft partner page has been updated and no longer contanis a download link.

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Topics

Microsoft Developer Network, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft TechNet, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott

Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than two decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications.

Disclosure

Ed Bott

Ed Bott is a freelance technical journalist and book author. All work that Ed does is on a contractual basis.

Since 1994, Ed has written more than 25 books about Microsoft Windows and Office. Along with various co-authors, Ed is completely responsible for the content of the books he writes. As a key part of his contractual relationship with publishers, he gives them permission to print and distribute the content he writes and to pay him a royalty based on the actual sales of those books. Ed's books written prior to fall 2011 have been distributed by Que Publishing (a division of Pearson Education) and by Microsoft Press. As of November 2011, Ed is a partner in the independent publishing company Fair Trade Digital Exchange, which exclusively publishes his books.

On occasion, Ed accepts consulting assignments. In recent years, he has worked as an expert witness in cases where his experience and knowledge of Microsoft and Microsoft Windows have been useful. In each such case, his compensation is on an hourly basis, and he is hired as a witness, not an advocate.

Ed does not own stock or have any other financial interest in Microsoft or any other software company. He owns 500 shares of stock in EMC Corporation, which was purchased before the company's acquisition of VMware. In addition, he owns 350 shares of stock in Intel Corporation, purchased more than two years ago. All stocks are held in retirement accounts for long-term growth.

Ed does not accept gifts from companies he covers. All hardware products he writes about are purchased with his own funds or are review units covered under formal loan agreements and are returned after the review is complete.

Biography

Ed Bott

Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than two decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. He's served as editor of the U.S. edition of PC Computing and managing editor of PC World; both publications had monthly paid circulation in excess of 1 million during his tenure. He is the author of more than 25 books on Microsoft Windows and Office, including the recently released Windows 7 Inside Out.

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The windws 7 beta
Crestview 22nd Apr 2009
Loaded on my new machine without a hitch, and FAST.
View in thread
0 Votes
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Has anyone tested Adobe CS4 applications on Win7 yet?
HypnoToad 18th Apr 2009
And when Win7 comes out, why should people automatically jump to it? After Vista, people will be VERY wary. Rightly so.

0 Votes
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Not yet
DaveN_MVP 18th Apr 2009
I haven't tested any Adobe apps on 7 yet - waiting for the RC. But thank you for posting a comment that relates to the topic.
0 Votes
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CS4 Win7 works just fine
katrayun Updated - 18th Apr 2009
I've had a good experience with CS4 and 7.

I've been using the 7000 build (I haven't bothered upgrading to the later builds, I'm lazy) as my main OS since the public beta started back in January. I depend on CS4 every day, and I haven't come across one problem so far.

Edit: Sorry, I thought I should mention that I use mainly Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Flash, Indesign, and occasionally Dreamweaver. I haven't tested Premiere and other CS4 software.
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RE: Mark your calendars: Windows 7 RC to go public on May 5
sahirs@... 18th Apr 2009
Ed, have you any idea whether Microsoft or h/w OEMs will be offering free Vista->to->7 upgrades once the 7 release date comes closer? I'm in the market for a new system in the next 6+ months, but I don't want to have to shell out for 7 later...
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I expect they will offer 7 upgrade vouchers
gmclean 19th Apr 2009
don't expect them to announce it ahead of time though and I wouldn't expect it until just a month or two before the release. I happened to buy a PC about a week before they announced the Vista Vouchers a few years ago. I was a bit disappointed but didn't see it as big deal.
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Contributr
Rumors say yes
Ed Bott Updated - 19th Apr 2009
It's a near-certainty that a free upgrade program will be available for people who buy new PCs after a certain date. Rumors I have read say that beginning date will be around the end of June and will last for approximately six months.
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RE: Mark your calendars: Windows 7 RC to go public on May 5
spruce 19th Apr 2009
Got any subjects to write about OTHER than Windows 7? Because it sure would be nice to see one sometime. I enjoy your column, but Jeez, it sure would be nice to read about something besides Windows 7 for a change.
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Contributr
It's what I do
Ed Bott 19th Apr 2009
Windows is my specialty, and with a new release imminent, it's only natural that I'll be writing a lot about it. ZDNet has lots of other things to read that aren't about Windows 7.

PS: I'm working on two pieces right now, to be published this week, that are NOT on Windows 7. Stay tuned.
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Of course, your point is on target...if...
Cayble Updated - 21st Apr 2009
Your one of the few who have no interest, or minimal to little interest in Windows 7. The fact is there are multi millions out there who are just about ready for a Windows upgrade and haven't hooked up with Vista so Windows 7 is mission critical for anyone (including big corps) who figures a Windows upgrade is due in the next 7 to 12 months. Its massive news for those multiple millions so Ed reporting on it is hyper important for those who need things like release dates.

So if the majority of Ed's reporting of late doesn't turn your crank; the reasons are obvious and huge. So if you do honestly read Ed's blogs much at all you should already be wildly aware that the release of Windows 7 IS the feature story a guy like Ed is counted on by the multi millions who love to keep abreast of one of the most significant operating systems in history.

So...your comment is hugely odd to say the least. I am not going to disparage your concerns, but you had best understand that the world has many idiots but the world is not nearly so full of idiots as you seem to be glossing over in your remarks, so you should consider the obvious implications in such silly comments about Ed's articles given Ed's clear and important reporting interests.

For heavens sake, if it wasn't Ed doing the updating on Windows 7 progress I would hope there would be someone doing it, so it might as well be Ed doing the job right.
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Look up there...
fairportfan 22nd Apr 2009
...to the left of Ed's picture. I'll wait here while you do.

(hmmm hmmm dee dah dee...)

Did you see it? It says "Ed Bott's Microsoft Report"

And W7 is *the* current MS news.
0 Votes
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Big news dominates!
Crestview 22nd Apr 2009
Live with it.
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Oops someone at Microsoft is getting good at marketing hype
tech_walker 20th Apr 2009
kinda nice to see for once. Win 7 kicks the crap out of the competition and I use many of the OS's out there.(XP, Vista, Linux, OSX, FreeBSD)I have to admit I just want it now so I can build my new machine.
BTW Ed how do you like that Sony, still enjoying it? I'm eying the 13.3 inch it looks really nice.
0 Votes
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The windws 7 beta
Crestview 22nd Apr 2009
Loaded on my new machine without a hitch, and FAST.

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