Windows 7 RC builds leaks: Nothing to see here

So the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) build (7100) has leaked to the torrents. People scramble. Downloading ensues.

Sadly, there's nothing new to see in this build. If you've been following along with my coverage of all the post-Beta builds over the past few months, you've already seen everything there is to see in the RC. That said, many haven't looked at Windows 7 since the Beta, and certainly the improvements since that milestone are tremendous. But this leaves me in a bit of a quandary: How do I cover something that hasn't changed?

Well.

Once I get the OK from Microsoft, I'll post the expected screenshots and review. My review will focus on what's changed since the beta, not what's changed since, say, build 7077, because, well, nothing's changed. Windows 7 RC is a very-close-to-final look at what Microsoft plans for the final release (barring any UI coming change, of course), so it's important and interesting regardless. But those, like myself, that have been plying over interim builds ... geesh. This thing is just done from what I can see.

Rafael and I do have some secrets to share, but again, we need to wait. There is more coming.

Regarding availability, I don't have any info that I can relay on when the RC build will be made available through official channels, but everyone who wants it should be able to get it in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned. :)

Discuss this Article 57

shark47
on Apr 24, 2009
"That's true, but as people have pointed out, a quarter isn't a trend. However, the long term trend is ominous for Microsoft:" Ooh, long term trend. Someone here has seen the future, because as far as I know, this is the first quarter where the year over year revenue has dropped. Regarding market cap, that's not necessarily an indicator of future performance. You're seriously using Wall Street to make predictions? After the last couple of years, I thought people would be smart enough to avoid doing that. Oh, well!
CompactDstrxion
on Apr 24, 2009
Got the 64-bit RC through torrents, activated with my beta key no problems there. I'd forgotten how much I loved Windows 7 :P
stimshady
on Apr 25, 2009
just installed the x86 RC, the difference from the BETA is just awesome. :)
shark47
on Apr 25, 2009
"Regardless of Apple vs MS, my point was that in today's economy, many business have gone bankrupt, yet some people are not impressed with 3 billion dollars in profit during today's economy. remember Circuit City or CompUSA? They're gone! Kudos to Apple for success." I agree. I don't think it's a big deal that Microsoft's revenue has gone down. The economy isn't really helping at this point. Companies like GM and Chrysler are struggling to stay afloat and will probably end up declaring bankruptcy. I think what is a big deal is that companies like Apple and Amazon have managed to grow in these conditions. I was at a client site recently, where seven of the thirteen people in the room had iPhones and the rest BBs or WM phones. That's pretty impressive. Microsoft doesn't have anything new going on until the second half of the year. I think the next quarter will be bad too but things might just pick up after that. Windows 7 will finally be out, Windows Mobile 6.5 is actually shaping up to be a decent release, the new Zune will be out (and obviously won't have as big an impact). I know a lot of people are excited about the possibility that this quarter has marked the beginning of the end of Microsoft, but it's too early. One quarter does not make a trend. Sorry to burst your bubble, fellas, but the fat lady isn't singing yet.
CompactDstrxion
on Apr 25, 2009
If anyone has an Acer laptop with the Tuba Cinebass booster in it and it becomes non-functional after installing Windows 7, download the Vista audio driver for your notebook from the Acer website (if it's labelled as 32-bit don't worry it should have the 64-bit driver packaged with it too). Once you have installed this the booster should start working properly again. Now you are free to update to the latest Realtek driver if you like. There's obviously some sort of file or setting applied when installing the driver from the Acer website but it stays enabled just fine when you uninstall it and update to the latest Realtek driver. Hope this helps someone!
chuckb84
on Apr 25, 2009
@shark "I know a lot of people are excited about the possibility that this quarter has marked the beginning of the end of Microsoft, but it's too early. One quarter does not make a trend. Sorry to burst your bubble, fellas, but the fat lady isn't singing yet." You're right, and that's why I quoted statistics that cover 5 years rather than a single quarter. While I have no love at all for Microsoft, I am also not delusional. Microsoft's position as the dominant player (in raw numbers, at least) in desktop computing is assured for a long time. I am happy to see that they are now in a position of declining influence, or at least they perceive that they have competitors (hence the ads), because that will rein in the hubris that still infects parts of the company (Ballmer being the leading example.). FWIW, I feel the same way about Apple. Competition for them from Microsoft is a good thing.
anonymous
on Apr 27, 2009
I still can't believe their so ontime for the RC release, Gone are the Vista days i guess.

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