Windows 7 pre-beta hits BitTorrent
The pre-beta version of Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system released to developers at the Professional Developers Conference has already made it onto prominent BitTorrent sites, where thousands of enthusiasts around the world are currently downloading it.
Well-known BitTorrent sites such as The Pirate Bay and Mininova were at the time of publication Friday hosting multiple downloads of the newly aired operating system--both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
On The Pirate Bay, one copy of the 32-bit build had more than one thousand people uploading it, and almost 7,000 people on the way to downloading it. The 64-bit version was less popular, with the earliest copy available on the site having only around 100 people hosting a copy and around a thousand still downloading it.
Enthusiasts downloading the pre-beta version of Windows 7 will notice that instead of being greeted by Vista's Welcome Center, users are taken to a Windows Live Messenger sign-in page.
(Credit: Robert Vamosi/CNET Networks; Microsoft)There were complaints that the version offered wasn't the latest build, but instead the stable one given the delegates and therefore didn't have the revised taskbar. Complaints also abounded about how slow the download was considering the lack of people seeding the file.
The most popular link for the 32-bit version of Windows 7 on Mininova had a similar number of people downloading and uploading the file as that on The Pirate Bay, although the 64-bit version on this site was a rare breed with only one copy boasting 30 seeds and around 150 leechers.
Some people weren't excited. "There is nothing (sic) new in it," wrote one commenter. "I wouldn't recommend this to download. Waste of time. Happy with Vista."
Others called for a reality check. "Seriously people. This was just a PRE-beta release that was given out at a trade show so writers would write about the new version. This SHOULD NOT be downloaded with the intent of using it as an everyday system. It is just so writers could get a feel for what was to come."
Businesses might wonder what the new operating system will mean for their business. "I was in Redmond three weeks ago and had a sneak peek," said Peter Menadue, who holds the role of global director of solutions and technology, Microsoft solutions business within systems integrator Dimension Data.
"I think they've done a stellar job. Sinofsky's a genius," he added, referring to Microsoft's Steven Sinofsky, senior vice president of the Windows and Windows Live engineering group.
He said that what didn't come out in the press coverage about Windows 7 were all the bits of the operating system that would be interesting to enterprise, with aspects like application security, data security, and application deployment getting a facelift.
The support for virtualization was something Menadue flagged as being of interest to business, as well as Microsoft's pledge to maintain application and driver compatibility with Vista.
Dimension Data will get the M3 code for Windows 7 before the end of the year, which will allow it to start an early deployment program internally.
Menadue said there had been a lot of interest in the operating system because there had been much less information than there was on previous releases, with Microsoft carefully controlling what reached the press, but added that with the current climate, companies were focused "on the here and now."
These comments were echoed by Jo Sweeney, adviser at analyst firm Intelligent Business Research Services. "What tends to happen (in times like these) is that IT professionals get much more focused on proving and not improving," he said. "People will (move to) Windows 7 because if they can put greater management features into it, it will solve some of the problems of desktop computing."
More than 80 percent of IT costs go into the day-to-day running of IT, Sweeney said--keeping all the PCs running, making sure everyone has the right patches--and Microsoft's dynamic IT strategy, in which Windows 7 is a part, will make that easier by allowing the separation of applications and user profiles from the operating system. This will allow anyone anywhere on the network to access their profile.
People doing best-practice desktop management will already have realized those improvements, Sweeney said, with Microsoft's direction being a reaction to the market, although he admitted it was a good one. "How do they execute?" he asked. "Question mark."
Suzanne Tindal reported for ZDNet Australia.
My sentiments exactly. A picture is worth a thousand words.
When I bought my laptop at the end of 2007, there was a copy of Microsoft Home and Office 2007 installed, but not registered. After playing with this version of Office for three weeks I removed it purely because of the counter intuitive ribbon controls, and installed Open Office, which has buttons that work like older versions of Office. I'm still using Open Office a year later(latest version), because it just works.
If Microsoft insists on building the ribbon interface into Office 7(per the pictures of the pre-beta), I may not upgrade to that version until someone builds a plugin to change the interfaces back to their normal appearance and functionality.
Also, it won't be called Office 7 (Office 2007 is version 12); the Windows 7 version of Office is Office 14.
Most documents (other than PowerPoint shows) tend to be taller than they are wide, and yet, the entire world is changing over to screens that are wider than they are tall. Which is fine, given that the screens also tend to be big. But with that in mind, I'm really surprised that Microsoft replaced the menus and toolbar with the ribbon, and didn't run it *vertically* on the screen, to make use of some of the "new" space.
by the way, i love the ribbon.
http://www.mrgtb.com
... You mean like apple when it comes out with an ipod every year and the fanboys go "OMG a new ipod, I have to have it because this new one has rounded edges" or "omg a new ipod and this one is also a phone I am soooo going to bring it with me tonight when we go see rocky 9"
Clean install boots with 150MB ram usage, comparable to the beloved XP.
How much of that hardware works on other latest release OS's?
Also, does it include any of the features in this guy's videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/creamhackered
If so, then I'm pretty hyped for Windows 7. It seems like they've been listening to the Vista complaints and added a whole lot of new features! I like the new taskbar and ribbon interface.
The vertical screen estate is at premium already, but they kill even more of it with the current ribbons plus menus.
Horizontal screen size is currently under-used, and is a preferred place to use. Take heed of Mac Office 2004's palettes. I have blogged about this at http://cubeover.blogspot.com/2007/10/microsoft-officemac2008.html one year ago!
I wish Windows 7 the very best...
http://www.comparecontractmobiles.com
And why exactly do you "have to" buy a new OS. I can't recall the last time I *had* to replace an OS on my pc because there was a new one available.
'What is this? Something's wrong with Windows!! I don't like change!!"
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by Vegaman_Dan
November 3, 2008 9:20 AM PST
- If it were up to me, I'd include a code or ID on each installation disk so that you could trace where those BT versions came from. Track it back down to the person who attended PDC and then when they got home with their new drive then uploaded the code.
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by renGek
November 3, 2008 10:34 AM PST
- YES, and the next time you video tape a tv show without the written consent of the network the FBI should be automatically notified by your TV of the crime and then the feds can knock down your door and haul you and your dog away without a warrant.
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by rapier1
November 3, 2008 12:09 PM PST
- Actually renGek, that sort of thing is explicitly allowed by law. Its the public performance aspect that can get people into trouble.
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by DrtyDogg
November 4, 2008 2:49 AM PST
- @renGek: Who uses video tape any more?
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (66 Comments)Once you find that person, turn them over to the FBI. When they are done with them, sue them into oblivion. Let it be known that whatever company sent that person to the PDC conference had employed this software pirate. Let that company's reputation be destroyed for having that person on staff.
Software piracy prevention currently is rather pathetic and jokingly ineffective.
Perhaps the RIAA needs to get involved. They seem to be pretty draconic about this sort of thing.
I hate criminals like this. I have zero sympathy for them.