Windows 7 Beta Download Limit Removed

By Kevin Parrish
published

Saturday Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc said that the company is removing the Windows 7 beta limit for two weeks.

Last week Microsoft pulled the 2.6 GB beta off the download servers, as heavy traffic overwhelmed and eventually brought the servers crumbling down to their knees in a black, smoking heap. The company had no clue when the Windows 7 Beta would return for mass consumption, however it appears that the beta OS returned to download status sometime this past Saturday. So far, everything looks peachy: the company isn't complaining about smoking processors or burned network cables.

However, to appease the masses, Microsoft took pity on aggravated downloaders and decided to lift the overall 2.5 million limit. This means more consumers can download and check out the beta than previously allowed.

"Due to an enormous surge in demand, the download experience was not ideal so we listened and took the necessary steps to ensure a good experience," LeBlanc said in his post. "We have clearly heard that many of you want to check out the Windows 7 Beta and, as a result, we have decided remove the initial 2.5 million limit on the public beta for the next two weeks (thru January 24th). During that time you will have access to the beta even if the download number exceeds the 2.5 million unit limit."

Microsoft seems quite excited about consumer enthusiasm towards Windows 7, however it should also throw up a red flag in regards to the overall feelings towards the current operating system, Windows Vista. Many editors test driving the new OS are giving it praises and offering burnt sacrifices, however others simply despise it, saying that Windows 7 is nothing more than a glorified version of Vista.

Still, consumers interested in checking out the beta should head here.

Kevin Parrish
29 Comments Comment from the forums
  • mersonix
    Good, this OS won't be broken.
    Reply
  • n3ard3ath
    'however others simply despise it, saying that Windows 7 is nothing more than a glorified version of Vista.'

    It is in fact. I'm pretty sure this could have been distributed via a Windows Vista Service Pack 2. So Microsoft releasing that as an enterely new OS so soon after Vista's release, I mean, this gotta be a punch in the face for all Vista consumers who paid hard money for an half-good OS and hardware upgrades in order to be able to run it decently. I mean, 4gigs minimum to run it as it should with all the 'super duper' Aero effect, when you can get a real 3D accelerated desktop interface on Linux platforms with Beryl with only a basic 3D acceleration option and 512mb of Ram, give me a break. And no, Linux is now not harder to use than any Windows platform as a user only perspective. Only OS deep configuration and customization require some research.
    Reply
  • TheFace
    Isn't a glorified version of Vista what everyone wants? I mean as of now there isn't much wrong with Vista, except that it's bloated. 7 is supposed to address that, i.e. make things faster, snappier, add more support, a few more features, and be a bit more stable. I use Vista x64 now and it's fine. If people are waiting for a version to upgrade to from XP, and they think that Vista is bad for some reason, then it seems the glorified version (Windows 7) will be the way to go.
    Reply
  • ahnilated
    It doesn't work trying to download it from Microsoft again as of 1/12/09 11:45 cst.
    Reply
  • davidgbailey
    It is a service pack.

    "Yes, the just-released Microsoft Windows 7 Beta 1 retains much of Vista's kernel architecture, as will the final version. That's prompted some pundits to quip that the new OS will just be a Vista service pack. Not so. The new OS is more compact than Vista, has an updated interface, and builds in better networking capability. It also includes some cool advances, such as multi-touch support and a redesigned taskbar with movable buttons. In addition, we're not likely to see the abundance of incompatibilities that caused such pain during the early phase of the Vista launch. That improvement is a direct result of the now-tuned Vista code in the kernel. In all, it's an impressive, though not revolutionary, release."

    http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2338317,00.asp

    LMAO! Does a new user interface constitute a new operating system? What about MOVEABLE buttons? Updated networking capabilities???

    It's called marketing. Vista was so terrible that they can't shake the negative associations most people have with it no matter what they do. So repackage it under a new name. 8 years and counting.
    Reply
  • davidgbailey
    And this isn't a beta, Vista was the beta.
    Reply
  • I still think that only mistake with Vista was same as MS doing with Win7, they should bite the bullet and stop 32bit version. Its obsolate. If there would be 64bit Vista only at launch, there would be no compatibility isues, you needed new drivers for Vista anyway, almost any PC that could run reasonably Vista was 64bit capable anyway. The Vista would be a big succes in industry. There would be no still used older 32bit progragrams uncompatible with Vista (hell, yed there would be tons of them, but Vista would be 64bit), and all 32bit apps could run under emulation. It has been done before, remember apple and OSX. I hope that you got my point.
    Reply
  • It has been done before, remember apple and OSX

    Yup. Unfortunately we also remember XP (32bit) and DOS/Win3.1 (16bit).
    Still think you are right though - MS should have ditched 32 bit computing with Vista, if they don't do it with Windows 7 when are they going to?
    Reply
  • mdillenbeck
    I also agree that 32 bit OSes should be eliminated from the line up - if only to force manufacturers to start supporting 64 bit. (For example, my university builds their VPN on the cisco VPN and they still don't have a vista 64 bit client. *sigh*)

    At this point I think Microsoft should at least offer a free upgrade to their Vista Ultimate users for failing to live up to their promise of regularly released premium features (when Windows 7 goes retail). Will they? Of course not - when a Service Pack can be turned into a new software upgrade, it helps corporate profits.

    However, Microsoft has been alienating me. I've slowly been converting my spare parts into Ubuntu computers - and once they get caught up on fully on multimedia apps (such as DVD/Blu-ray disk playback with full menu support) I'll completely ditch Microsoft.
    Reply
  • nekatreven
    Get USED to paying for a new OS more often if you want the latest stuff. I can't believe ppl STILL don't get it.

    Even if Win7 blows everyone's mind and is absolutely amazing...it won't be around many more years than vista.

    Others have said and I agree; Microsoft learned their lesson from letting people get so used to XP. The SECOND successor to XP is in beta already and yet they STILL can't manage to stop selling XP to Dell and others.

    you do the math
    Reply