Try out Windows 7 free...for a year!

[Psy]

Microsoft has revealed that the first release candidate of Windows 7 will have a much longer lifespan than previous release candidates, and won’t expire for over a year after its release. PC World reports that that Windows 7 RC1 won’t expire until 1 June 2010, which will effectively give you 13 months to try out the OS for free.

Source

I have yet to try the release candidate but, based on the beta, I'm sure it will be even better.

[dissonance]

Meh. They couldn't pay me.

[Wills]

I've been using it at work on our test bed computer for a few months now, and I've got to say, I absolutely love it. It's much faster, more efficient, leaves less of a footprint and is compatible with everything we've thrown at it so far (including Steam, although I had to fiddle with the Firewall!). I'm planning to switch to it as soon as the beta is released outside of TechNet (although work has a subscription, but its a bank holiday and it's out Tuesday), and install it on my laptop, as I figure Vista is a such a hog, and it might extend my laptop life for an extra six months or so!

[Habboi]

So then. Would I be right in saying that Vista was a test and I was its guinea pig? Grrrrr.

[ScarT]

If you've tried the beta, then you should definitely download the release candidate. So much faster, its incredible!

[MELVIn]

so wait, why would I want to uninstall the beta just to install this?

[Wills]

Because the RC has a bunch of improvements, and is basically the finished version, and the beta expires in August, and the RC expires next July!

[RawMeat3000]

Can you just upgrade to build 7100 from 7000 without losing all your data and programs, or do you have to reformat?

[whiffen]

Nice, I saw this earlier today. I'm getting it right away, and I'm pretty sure your going to have to reformat RawMeat.

This is probably the first OS I will actually buy XD

[mongoosled]

Is there a link to the download? or do i need to wait until the 5th to grab it?

[Wills]

Can you just upgrade to build 7100 from 7000 without losing all your data and programs, or do you have to reformat?

I'm not sure, as I haven't installed it yet, but I've almost positive I've read that the RC requires you to install completely fresh, in order to ensure everyone is operating on the same exact build.

[whiffen]

Is there a link to the download? or do i need to wait until the 5th to grab it?

Gots tah wait for teh 5th

[mongoosled]

Is there a link to the download? or do i need to wait until the 5th to grab it?

Gots tah wait for teh 5th

well, poop. from the way you guys were talking, i figured it there was some way to get it now.

[Oakley]

Tempted to give this a go, however I reformatted my machine only about a week ago. Might leave it a bit haha.

[Wills]

well, poop. from the way you guys were talking, i figured it there was some way to get it now.

It is, but only for TechNet subscribers. That is, until the 5th of May when its released to the public!