Windows 7 Release Date has been set at 22nd October 2009, but Windows 7 is now available to pre-order for half-price! The offer is only valid for while stocks last and then customers will have to Buy Windows 7 for full price.

The Windows 7 testing program has finished and the Windows 7 RTM has just been leaked on torrents as Windows 7 RTM Build 7600, and it will be available officially later in July 2009.

In the meantime to learn more about the new features in Windows 7 then check out the Windows 7 FAQ. You can also:

• Check out the latest Windows 7 News, Windows 7 Screenshots and Windows 7 Videos
• There are also Windows 7 Wallpapers and a Windows 7 Theme you can download for any PC
• Join the Windows 7 Forum (over 2,500 members!) for help with any Windows 7 release or to ask any question

Source: here

Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

• Alt + P – In Windows Explorer, activate an additional file preview pane to the right side of the window with this new shortcut. This panel is great for previewing images in your photos directory.

• Windows + + (plus key) n Windows + – (minus key) – Pressing the Windows and plus or minus keys activates the Magnifier, which lets you zoom in on the entire desktop or open a rectangular magnifying lens to zoom in and out of parts of your screen. You can customize the Magnifier options to follow your mouse pointer or keyboard cursor. Keep in mind that so far, the Magnifier only works when Aero desktop is enabled.

• Windows + Up n Windows + Down – If a window is not maximized, pressing Windows + Up will fill it to your screen. Windows + Down will minimize that active window. Unfortunately, pressing Windows + Up again while a window is minimized won’t return it to its former state. Similar to the shortcut above, hitting these three keys while a window is active will stretch it vertically to the maximum desktop height. The width of the window will however stay the same. Pressing Windows + Down will restore it to its previous size.

• Windows + Shift + Up – Similar to the shortcut above, hitting these three keys while a window is active will stretch it vertically to the maximum desktop height. The width of the window will however stay the same. Pressing Windows + Down will restore it to its previous size.

• Windows + Left n Windows + Right – One of the new features of Windows 7 is the ability to automatically make a window fill up half of your screen by dragging to the left or right. This pair of shortcuts performs the same function without your mouse. Once a window is fixed to one side of the screen, you can repeat the shortcut to flip it to the other side. This is useful if you’re extending a desktop across multiple monitors, which prevents you from executing this trick with a mouse.

• Windows + Home – This shortcut performs a similar function to hovering over a window’s peek menu thumbnail in the Taskbar. The active window will stay on your desktop while every other open application is minimized. Pressing this shortcut again will restore all the other windows.

• Windows + E – Automatically opens up a new Explorer window to show your Libraries folder.

• Windows + P – Manage your multiple-monitor more efficiently with this handy shortcut. Windows + P opens up a small overlay that lets you configure a second display or projector. You can switch from a single monitor to dual-display in either mirror or extend desktop mode.

• Windows + Shift + Left n Windows + Shift + Right – If you are using two or more displays (and who isn’t, these days?), memorize this shortcut to easily move a window from one screen to the other. The window retains its size and relative position on the new screen, which his useful when working with multiple documents. Utilize that real estate!

• Windows + [Number] – Programs (and new instances) pinned to your Taskbar can be launched by hitting Windows and the number corresponding to its placement on the Taskbar. Windows + 1, for example, launches the first application, while Windows + 4 will launch the fourth. We realize that this is actually one key-press more than just clicking the icon with your mouse, but it saves your hand the trouble of leaving the comfort of the keyboard.

• Windows + T – Like Alt + Tab (still our all time favorite Windows specific shortcut), Windows + T cycles through your open programs via the Taskbar’s peek menu.

• Windows + Space – This combo performs the same function as moving your mouse to the bottom right of the Taskbar. It makes every active window transparent so you can view your desktop. The windows only remain transparent as long as you’re holding down the Windows key.

• Ctrl + Shift + Click – Hold down Ctrl and Shift while launching an application from the Taskbar or start menu to launch it with full administrative rights.

• Ctrl + Click – Hold down Ctrl while repeatedly clicking a program icon in the Taskbar will toggle between the instances of that application, like multiple Firefox windows (though not browser tabs).

Here’s some breaking news: At the Microsoft CES Keynote, Steve Ballmer has just announced the launch of the Windows 7 Public beta. Customers of Technet and MSDN can get the beta right away (if you hadn’t already been tempted by the various leaks) while the rest of us will have to wait until 2 days from now to snag the trial OS.

In his keynote address, Ballmer stressed that Windows 7 will provide faster performance, longer battery life, faster boot times, and a less obnoxious security alert system. Early reports from people who have tried the beta seem to back these claims up, and we’re very excited to see how the public will react to this beta.

More as it happens.

While the site that points to the beta download wasn’t working at all earlier in the day, as CNET’s Ina Fried noted, it’s now back up but still doesn’t have the download links. But if you really, absolutely need to get Windows 7 Beta, follow the direct download links below (compliments of Wired):

Windows 7 x86 (32bit)

Windows 7 x64 (64 bit)

Microsoft still expects the actual site to be pointing to the downloads later today after it adds more infrastructure support.

Vista completely testing software, why that. Microsoft Windows Vista successor Windows 7 is under development on-going with Windows Vista, and what the conjunctions with Windows XP, because Microsoft want make deal to replace Windows XP and Vista with this while testing this Windows 7 both XP and Vista

Windows XP currently patched until end of 2009 and while Vista more than that, but it is going to be replacement both this existing Windows, Vista does not really support netbook.

Claim that Windows XP and Vista does not complete OS…? I don’t really think that way, Microsoft again making money with Windows 7.

Windows 7 is on the market either late 2009 or earlier 2010.  (Not Official yet…)

Virtually all security experts (as well as myself) are counseling users to switch to any other web browser — none of the others are affected, including Firefox, Chrome, and Opera — at least for the time being, though Microsoft has stubbornly said it “cannot recommend people switch due to this one flaw.” Microsoft adds that it is working on a fix but has offered no ETA on when that might happen. Meanwhile it offers some suggestions for a temporary patch, including setting your Internet security zone settings to “high” and offering some complicated workarounds. (Some reports state, however, that the fixes do not actually work.)

Expedient patching or switching are essential. Security pros fear that the attack will soon spread beyond the theft of gaming passwords and into more criminal arenas, as the malicious code can be placed on any website and can be adapted to steal any password stored or entered using the browser. It’s now down to the issue of time: Will Microsoft repair the problem and distribute a patch quickly enough to head off the tsunami of fraud that’s about to hit or will it come too late to do any good?

Meanwhile, I’ll reiterate my recommendation: Switch from Internet Explorer as soon as you can. You can always switch back once the threat is eliminated. (To clarify: You don’t need to uninstall IE, just don’t use it for the time being.)

Links for other browsers to try: Firefox Chrome Safari Opera

Source: here

People are still as confused as ever. So let’s take a stab at clarifying, once again, what’s going to happen by answering some frequently asked questions about XP’s imminent disappearance.

Will Windows XP really no longer be on sale after June 30? Sorry for the double negative, but no. All this means is that Microsoft will stop selling the OS. Finding a computer with XP preinstalled will likely be very difficult, as well. However, you’ll still be able to find copies for the foreseeable future, and likely the unforeseeable one, too. See for yourself: You can find copies of just about any Microsoft product, including ancient versions of Windows and even MS-DOS, by simply searching online. But hang on to your current copy of Windows XP. You may need it down the road if you don’t want to move to Vista.

Will I be forced to upgrade to Vista soon? No. But it will get harder and harder not to, especially since new software and peripherals are likely to stop working with XP. That could take years.

Will my XP machine stop working in June? No, but Microsoft will stop releasing non-security software updates to the masses on April 14, 2009. But let’s be clear: XP will continue to “work” even after this point.

Will Microsoft shut off product activation for XP after June? No, that would be crazy. While no one has said this will happen, it’s conceivable that Windows could shut down product activation for XP at some point. But that would only happen after XP reaches its end-of-support term (when all support plans expire). The good news for you: That happens on April 8, 2014, which should be plenty of time to get the kinks worked out of Vista-or switch to a Mac, Linux, or anything else. Bottom line: Your copy of XP will work, totally legally, for at least six more years.

What about this exception for Windows XP Home Edition I hear about? Doesn’t apply to you. Microsoft will continue to sell XP to makers of ultra-cheap laptops like the Asus Eee PC  until 2010 because they just can’t run Vista. But it is not going to make XP Home Edition available as installable software to end-users.

What about after 2014? Well, that’s unclear. But it’s possible XP will stop being installable at that point. Microsoft’s official policy is that these dates have “no affect [sic] on how long you can use a product,” which may imply product activation will work forever. However, two things come to mind:

1) Even the most die-hard XP enthusiast will probably be ready to upgrade at that point (as XP will be nearly 15 years old, and your PC will be dead by then, I’m sure).

2) Even if Microsoft shuts off product activation, the hacker community will certainly make dozens of tools to let you continue using XP with abandon. Fret not.

Can I install XP on a PC that has Vista already on it? Yes. You can delete any partition with any OS on it (and reformat it) during the installation of XP. If you’re feeling brave, you can even run both OSes at the same time by setting up a dual-boot machine.

Whew! Does that clear everything up? Feel free to continue sending your queries and adding your comments below.

Note: This post was originally created in April 2007 and updated with new and changed information in April 2008.

Source: here

Earlier rumors that Microsoft might extend the sales date have proven untrue, as Microsoft has reiterated that, indeed, June 30 will be the final sales date cut-off for the product. That’s it. It’s a Vista world now.

Loopholes will remain for some PC makers for some months to come, namely those who are building ultra-low-cost computers that aren’t powerful enough for Vista. (Though some machines in this class, like HP’s Mini-Note, actually come with Vista anyway.) For at least the rest of the year, downgrades remain an option for many PC purchasers too, though you’ll have to jump through some hoops, and possibly pay extra, in order to get XP.

As I’ve written several times (and reassured many of you in email responses), XP fans needn’t panic about the loss of XP. Even if you don’t have a copy on hand, the product will be available through many channels for years to come (and likely forever), through both retail outlets and the aftermarket. As I type this, nearly 1,000 copies of XP are on sale on eBay, where they usually sell for less than $100.

In other news, Microsoft has recently  pledged to keep supporting XP, including the release of security updates, all the way through 2014. So XP users needn’t fret that you’ll suddenly be victimized by hackers due to unpatched security flaws. Updates should work exactly as you’re used to them currently through the Windows Update system.

Source: here