Microsoft will launch a preview version (known as a “release candidate”) of Windows 7 tomorrow for public downloading, but some tech analysts that have early access to the operating system have already said that it’s a winner.
The software giant has already released beta versions of the software, but is now releasing a new version that is almost identical to the final product.
Joshua Topolsky from Engadget wrote in a blog post that Windows 7 “is mostly more of the same…which is to say a really cleaned up, streamlined, nicer looking version of Vista”.
“It’s clear that lots of folks see this as the big, shiny bandaid for many of the Vista woes that people have been experiencing – and in many ways, that’s exactly what it is.
“This is a valiant effort from Microsoft, and it shows that the company does understand it’s burned some bridges throughout the last three years – this is a big step for them both in technique and tone, and that’s certainly not lost on us.”
PCmag.com wrote that the preview version is “more polished than the beta; seems to be better optimised for operating speed and responsiveness and has a few new features that are of interest too”.
“Quicker to install, more polished and customisable, and easier to use than earlier builds, the Windows 7 release candidate is a nice step towards finalisation of the operating system,” it said.
PCAdvisor wrote that it is too early to give a proper assessment of Windows 7, but that the signs are looking good.
“Microsoft has made its intentions clear: Windows 7 is intended to right the wrongs Vista wrought, but retain that operating system’s good points. And at this point, we can’t argue with that. Our early beta tests suggest that the OS will be quicker than Vista, which can only be a good thing.”
The release candidate was made available to only a select group of users last week, but will be publically available tomorrow.
The new operating system features compatibilities with touch-screen interfaces, and a newly designed taskbar that operates in a similar way to those on Apple computers.
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Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
