Microsoft sent to a select group of testers on December 16 invitations to participate in Windows 7 Beta 1.
Individuals who received the invites are considered “tech beta testers.” From the note Microsoft sent to the invitees:
“While (the Windows 7) beta will not be available until early 2009 we, know you are excited to get started so we have opened the microsoft.beta.win7.lobby (on the Microsoft Connect site) so you may begin renewing acquaintances with previous participants as well as meeting new testing peers. After accepting the invitation, you will be able to sign into Microsoft Connect and click on the ‘Windows 7 Beta Program’ link for more information on accessing the newsgroups.
“As well, to better understand our audience and how we are asking you to complete the following three surveys to tell us about yourself. Each survey has 20-40 questions and each should take you approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. You don’t have to take them all at once nor do you have to do it right now. We ask though that at some point you find time to complete them. As a thank-you for completing these prior to the end of the calendar year (Prior to January 1st, 2009) each participant who completes all three surveys (or indicates ‘already taken’) will be put into a drawing and five winners selected to receive some Windows 7 logo’ed toys!”
Beta 1 will be the first — and I’ve heard only — Windows 7 test build that Microsoft plans to make available to the public. I asked Microsoft how long after the tech beta testers get their code will the company make Beta 1 available to the public. No word back yet.
Update: Microsoft declined to comment on when a public release of Beta 1 would occur. A spokesperson also declined to comment on how many folks will be part of the Windows 7 Beta 1 tech beta tester pool.
Microsoft officials said at the Professional Developers Conference that the company was planning to release Windows 7 Beta 1 in early 2009. My ZDNet blogging colleague Ed Bott has put a stake in the ground with his prediction of a January 13, 2009 Beta 1 release date.
Until quite recently, Microsoft was planning to make Windows 7 Beta 1 available to the public just before Christmas. Just last month, a few folks told me the Windows 7 team was slated to do its “beta engineering signoff” on December 10. A one-week internal Windows 7 beta release was slated for December 11 to 17. And Windows 7 “beta product availability” was scheduled to commence on December 17. That December 17 date was for the public Windows 7 Beta 1, I was told by various sources.
If Microsoft is now planning to get tech beta testers code in the new year, I’d expect that the final Windows 7 release could be slightly later than the mid-2009 date I’ve been hearing for the past several weeks. But word is the Windows 7 team is still tracking to get the code to PC makers in time for them to preload it on new PCs for the holiday 2009 season.
|
December 18th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I would like to be one of the beta testers.
December 19th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I would like to be one of the beta testers.whether it will cost something to me? Please intimate
December 19th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
I would like to be one of the beta testers.
December 21st, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I would like to be one of the Windows7 beta testers.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:28 am
I’d like to be windows 7 beta tester.. is it any requirements needed? let me know.. thanks.
December 28th, 2008 at 12:03 am
I’d like to be windows 7 beta tester.. is it any requirements needed? let me know.. thanks
December 29th, 2008 at 3:46 am
I would like to be one of the Windows 7 beta testers. What are the requirements?
December 29th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I would like to be one of the beta testers.
January 2nd, 2009 at 8:40 am
I would like to try windows 7 if it can out do vista! I’ve been using computers sence 1984. I don’t play games I like to use graphic programs.
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:40 am
ill try it for you free of charge and use it welland put it to the test
January 3rd, 2009 at 6:31 pm
I would like to be one of the beta testers
January 4th, 2009 at 11:20 am
I dying to be a beta tester.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:09 am
I would like to test windows 7
January 6th, 2009 at 3:10 am
I would like to be a windows 7 tester. I like trying new ideas.
January 7th, 2009 at 5:32 am
I fix Computers for a living now i own 5 computers! and aswell have XP and Vista. I love Vista and i feel it is a great operating system.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I had been waiting for years to see Windows 7. The dream operating system to work with. Definitly it is gonna create waves among the users. Waiting for tomoro. Will be happy to test Windows 7.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
I would like to be a Windows 7 beta tester. I have 5 computers and I will give it a real workout
January 9th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
I would like to be one of the beta testers
January 9th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
I would like to be one of the beta testers.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
I am currently using Windows XP, I would like to know the newer Windows 7 !
January 10th, 2009 at 12:23 am
I would like to be a beta tester.
January 11th, 2009 at 8:16 am
I’ve got the 64bit version and I am playing with it.
SO far, it is very promising. No hardware issues so far. NO BSOD. A lot of software don’t work, especially security software betas.
I would like to know if the betas require a product key at all!
regards!
January 12th, 2009 at 1:12 am
I would also like to test the beta of windows 7
Thank you.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
You can download and test the beta from this link:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/3/3/633118BD-6C3D-45A4-B985-F0FDFFE1B021/EN/7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_Ultimate-GB1CULFRE_EN_DVD.iso