Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Linux, Windows x64

With the release of Ubuntu 9.04 and developments like Moblin and HP’s MIE creating quite stir, plenty of people were saying that 2009 would be ‘the year of Linux on the desktop.’ Not that the statement hasn’t been made before, but there appeared to be some real momentum this time around.

Enter the Windows 7 RC. A quick look at StatCounter’s most recent data shows Linux use at .71% and Microsoft’s soon-to-be released OS right behind at .68%. StatCounter’s chart only shows the top 5 OSes, so you’ll need to take a look at the raw CSV data to get the numbers.

Things certainly look good for Windows 7, but let’s keep in mind that it’s still competitive with Linux on price at this point (read: free). Once people have to shell out their hard-earned money for the new OS, will things change or will Linux still struggle to make gains on Windows?

What are your thoughts?

StatCounter data shows Windows 7 pre-release use closing in on Linux originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft, Windows x64

Microsoft has activated the kill annoy-the-crap-out-of-you switch on Windows 7 Beta and urged us to install the RC, upgrade coupon plans have been announced, pre-orders are being taken, the Family Pack license has surfaced, and things appear to be on track for the RTM to release just ten days from now.

As mentioned a two weeks ago - and now been confirmed by an ‘inside source’ close to our chum Paul at Geeksmack - the final build is slated for July 10th and code sign-off will follow on the 13th.

General availability won’t come until October, officially. However, since the RTM ISO downloads will be available to Technet and MSDN subscribers soon, they’ll probably be available on every torrent tracker in the known universe within hours of the first successful download.

Or sooner, if the crew at Wzor.net is feeling generous.

Yes, Windows 7 really will RTM in ten days originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft

Got three computers at home? There is reason to believe that Microsoft will let you license Windows 7 on all of them for a very competitive price.

In recent leaked RTM branch builds of WIndows 7 Home Premium, there’s been an interesting language chance in the license agreement under “Installation Use and Rights”:

b. Family Pack. If you are a “Qualified Family Pack User”, you may install one copy of the software marked as “Family Pack” on three computers in your household for use by people who reside there. Those computers are the “licensed computers” and are subject to these license terms. If you do not know whether you are a Qualified Family Pack User, visit go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Linkid=141399 or contact the Microsoft affiliate serving your country.

No, the link doesn’t work yet, but this seems to indicate that Microsoft is going to offer a multi-license pack of Windows 7 Home Premium. Other builds (Ultimate, Pro, etc.) don’t contain the Family Pack wording.

It makes sense for several reasons. First, Microsoft offered a similar deal for Vista upgrades when it was released - a two pack for $49.99. Second, they use this strategy to push Office 2007 with the Home and Student edition. Third, Apple does it with Leopard and at one hell of a price: $199 for up to five Macs under the same roof.
CNet’s Ed Bott predicts Microsoft will undercut Apple slightly and we’ll see the Family Pack priced at $189.99, though it will likely cover three machines as the Office license does.

[via Kristan Kenney]

Family Pack license for Windows 7 could cover 3 machines on the cheap originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The New England Patriots have announced the practice schedule for the first seven days of the team’s training camp. These practices are open to the public. Admission and parking are free.

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft

So you downloaded the first beta version of Windows 7 when it was released to the public in January. You installed it on a separate partition on your Windows XP, Vista, Linux, or OS X box played around with it for a little while and then forgot about it. You never got around to installing the Windows 7 release candidate that came later.

Well, let me tell you what will happen the next time you boot up Windows 7 Beta. You’ll be able to use your computer for about 2 hours and then it will restart. Microsoft built a little time bomb into the beta to remind users to upgrade or remove the operating system. Subtle, not so much. Effective? Yes. Annoying? Definitely.

If you want to keep using a free version of Windows 7, it’s time to upgrade to Windows 7 RC. But there’s a time bomb on the release candidate as well. Starting on march 1st, 2010 it will begin restarting every two hours as well, and come June 1st, 2010 it’ll just stop working. But since Microsoft will begin shipping the full version of Windows 7 on October 22nd of this year, you should have plenty of opportunity to upgrade by then.

In the meantime, Microsoft is essentially letting you run (and test) Windows 7 for a year and a half for free. Just remember to download Windows 7 RC by August 15th.

Windows 7 Beta shuts down today. Repeatedly (time to upgrade to RC) originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For second-year cornerback Terrence Wheatley, the sky isn’t the limit … it’s only the beginning.

Celebrate 50 seasons by creating your own top 10 lists. For the month of July, we’re leaving this one totally up to you. Rank the Top 10 Moments in Patriots history from a list of 50 as compiled by our experts. Have fun on memory lane and keep coming back monthly to submit your picks as we unveil new lists.

Today’s Blitz features a recap of Bruschi’s lengthy career with the Patriots and the impact he has had on the franchise.

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft, Commercial, Beta, Windows x64

When pricing information for Windows 7 upgrades first appeared, it sounded like more good news for consumers. The leaked Best Buy memo offered a price of $49.99, and Windows 7 fanatics everywhere cheered. That, coupled with the free upgrade coupons OEMs were offering to consumers sure made it look like Microsoft was going to be extremely aggressive with pricing.

Fast forward, and now we know that the rock-bottom price is for pre-orders only and retail copies will set you back $119.99 for Home Premium and $199.99 for Professional. That’s only $10 less than Vista upgrades ran initially, and hardly what I’d call aggressive.

Further disappointing news is that Microsoft has now instructed OEMs to cap free upgrades on volume purchase at 25 units. While that’s plenty of room for smaller businesses, it’s a sharp two-finger salute to medium and large business.

Four small businesses can get 100 free upgrades, but your large enterprise has to pay for the extra 75?

Ouch.

That’s not really the kind of announcement that will make IT administrators jump at the chance to get new metal running Windows 7.

[via Daily Tech]

Microsoft to OEMs: cut off free Vista to Windows 7 upgrades at 25 originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Defensive coordinator Dean Pees and his wife, Melody, make beautiful music together.