Apple Snow Leopard And Microsoft Windows 7 OS

Windows 7 may be the closest Microsoft has gotten to offering a desktop operating system as performance-nimble, aesthetically pleasing and, dare we say it, as potentially secure as Apple has delivered with OS X.

The relatively close release dates of both OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and Windows 7 plus the awesomeness of both operating systems are generating much publicity. Inevitably, both OSes will also be the subject of much comparison. This may not be a true apples-to-apples comparison, depending on which side of the fan base you reside on, but here’s a look at features, side by side, of both Windows 7 and Snow Leopard: full story

Windows 7 Beta Downloads Extended Into February

Microsoft To Kill Windows 7 Beta On Feb. 10

Computer enthusiasts who want to get their hands on the trial version of Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT)’s next operating system have just two more weeks to do so.

The company says it will end availability of Windows 7 Beta on Feb. 10.

There are a couple of loopholes, however. Users who started to download the OS before that date will have until Feb. 12 to complete the process. Also, Microsoft will continue to distribute product keys beyond Feb. 12 to users who have previously downloaded Windows 7 Beta but have yet to obtain a key.

Windows 7 beta for public download

Windows 7 beta available for public download

Microsoft made the Windows 7 beta available for public download Saturday after its servers were overwhelmed by users trying to download the operating system.

On its Windows 7 site, Microsoft posted a note saying “The Windows 7 Beta is now available for download.” The Windows 7 site lists a page where the beta can be downloaded.

Download Windows 7 beta here.

Windows 7 Public Beta Finally Goes Live

Microsoft has made the public beta of Windows 7 again available to download, after overwhelming traffic to Microsoft’s servers caused nearly a day’s delay.

Microsoft: Windows 7 and IE8

According to 23 tests comparing the 32-bit versions of Windows 7, Windows Vista SP1, and Windows XP SP3, the upcoming version of Windows will be more efficient.

Google, Microsoft, Apple sued over preview icons

A Michigan-based networking company on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against Google, Microsoft, and Apple alleging that all three tech giants violated a patent it owns on the use of document-preview icons–or thumbnails–in operating systems. more

Windows 7: The Linux killer

Preston Gralla of Computerworld has a good analysis on Windows 7 vis a vis Linux:

Microsoft has long been worried about Linux competition in the server market. When it came to ordinary PCs and laptops, however, it knew it had little to fear.

But that was then. Now Microsoft may fear Linux on the desktop as much as it does the Mac. It’s finally taking Linux seriously as a desktop operating system, and it has designed Windows 7 to kill it.

The threat to Windows comes entirely from “netbooks” — lightweight, inexpensive laptops that typically use Intel’s low-powered Atom processor and don’t come with substantial amounts of RAM or powerful graphics processors. They’re designed mainly for browsing the Web, handling e-mail, writing memos, and taking care of simple word-processing or spreadsheet chores.