Better Faster PC

Though it may already be unofficially available on torrent trackers like Mininova (just click here) build 7100 (or the Release Candidate -  RC - release) will only officially be available for download by the general public on 5th May. You can read more about it at the Windows Team Blog here. If you want to check out some screenshots of Windows 7 RC (build 7100) then you can check out this page here giving 50 screenshots of the latest Windows 7 release. Some more good news regarding Windows 7 is that an XP compatibilty feature will be built in. According to Microsoft this feature should make Windows 7 completely (100%) backwards compatible with older Windows XP software. This is great news for users and businesses still using legacy software, forcing them to stick with Windows XP, whether they wanted to or not.

And finally, if you haven’t seen them, Windows 7 RC has included the most funky, cool wallpapers I have probably ever seen! Really worth checking out! The Flickr photo pool is here and you can download the entire wallpaper pack here.

If you have Windows Vista and are not keen to install a Beta version of Windows 7 but would like a similar visual style to Windows 7 in Windows Vista then check out some of the options below:

• Windows Seven(7) Transformation Pack is HERE
• Windows Se7en (Vienna) Transformation Pack is HERE 
• Winmatrix lists 5 different options HERE
• Technoworld also lists their Top 5 HERE
• AskVG has a How To Guide for converting without the use of a transformation pack. The instructions are HERE

For anyone out there is using the Beta version of Windows 7 but haven’t got around to checking out all the Themes available I will give a quick list of some themes I found.

• The official Microsoft site has some themes - Go HERE
• ithinkdifferent has over 20 themes - Go HERE
• Windows7Themes.net has a long list of themes - Go HERE
• Here is post on how to create Windows 7 Themes - Go HERE
• 3 Beautiful Themes - Go HERE
• Some Windows 7 Wallpapers - Go HERE and HERE

Microsoft has finally pulled the plug on Windows 7 Beta downloads so if you never got one, unfortunately it is not officially too late.

Anyone who is in the process of completing a download will be allowed to complete it but no new downloads will be accepted.

The official notice from Microsoft is HERE.

If you have just downloaded Windows 7 or want to try and get a little more out of your fresh install then check out this great post over at Gizmodo HERE which gives a thorough breakdown of Windows 7 from install to features and troubleshooting.

Worth a read if you want to get a bit more stuck in to your fresh Windows 7 install.

Customization and Modding has become a major part of the home computer industry, not only in hardware but also software. Windows 7 Beta is doing the rounds at the moment and there is a nice customized desktop over at Lifehacker which you may want to take a look at.

As is pointed out the difference is not really noticeable between Vista & XP desktop mods but this is a good thing as it means (hopefully) no compatibility issues.

Take a look at the post and read the comments for more information. Check it out HERE.

Windows Vista was heavily criticized on it’s launch on a number of issues and one of them was the launching package - Microsoft introuced a new (and incredibly confusing) method of delivering Windows Vista to the public in various different versions. The confusion and difference between the various versions raised a lot of complaints amongst users who just wanted to buy Windows and install it, not sift through a multitude of packages or buying a pre-built system or a laptop with one version on it when you wanted a different version etc.

Many (if not most) people were hoping with the release of Windows 7 that Microsoft would ditch this confusing marketing concept but it has officially been anounced that they will not, even though Windows 7 Ultimate reportedly works on anything from Asus EEE to the most high-end of dekstop machines. For this reason the need for  having different versions from a hardware perspective seems unjustified but Microsoft seems to have different ideas.

You can read the official Microsoft press release HERE or a more understandable interpretation at Download Squad HERE.

Well, after just getting your hands on the Beta, most of you are probably wondering what is coming next. Well, it turns out we are not going to be getting a Beta 2. In fact, Microsoft is on it’s way to Release Candidate 1.

That means Windows 7 is on the way. Possibly late 2009 or early 2010!

Read more about it HERE.

If you have already got Windows 7 then you might be wanting some free stuff (like themes) and Microsoft is giving them away for FREE.

Personalize you copy of Windows 7 today, just click HERE.

If you have not downloaded Windows 7 yet but were hoping to get around to it, Microsoft has extended the download deadline for the Beta. Whether or not they will stick to this date is questionable but if you have not got your hands on it yet and were planning to, maybe you should think about doing it soon as the new official deadline for downloading Windows 7 Beta is February 10th.

Read more about it HERE.