Do you guys have the RC? Id like to try it when it comes out. Does anyone know if performance will be better when using windowed mode with games?

Is the RC build 7100?

Report: Windows 7 to Launch on Oct. 23 - News and Analysis by PC Magazine

Report: Windows 7 to Launch on Oct. 23

A report by Pocket-Lint.com quotes an Acer executive as saying that Windows 7 will launch on Oct. 23.

Acer America representatives could not be reached for comment by press time. A Microsoft spokesman said that the company has not changed its public plan of record, as far as the launch timing of Windows 7 is concerned.

"23rd October is the date the Windows 7 will be available. There is a 30 day upgrade time so that customers don't wait to buy a new computer, so if you buy during that 30 day period, you'll get a free upgrade to Windows 7", Bobby Watkins, Acer's UK managing director told Pocket-lint.

A Microsoft spokesman did not confirm or deny Pocket-lint.com's report.

"On 30 April we made the Release Candidate (RC) of Windows 7 available for download to MSDN and TechNet subscribers," a spokesman said in an email. "Windows 7 Release Candidate is a major business and engineering milestone, and indicates that the operating system is entering the final phases of development. Windows 7 RC is the result of feedback from millions of customers and partners around the world, and is ready for partners to develop and test applications, device drivers and services. As we have said for some time, we are committed to making Windows 7 available within three years of the General Availability of Windows Vista."

Windows Vista for businesses launched on Nov. 30, 2006, while Microsoft's consumer version launched in January of 2007.

Originally Posted by messyjesse

Do you guys have the RC? Id like to try it when it comes out. Does anyone know if performance will be better when using windowed mode with games?

Is the RC build 7100?

Yes on the 7100. Just burned my DVD and hope to install this weekend.

Will test some games then.

Here is a nice little review:

Windows 7 Release Candidate 1 impressions, insights, and expectations

Where did you get a copy?

As you may or may not know, Windows 7 Release Candidate 1 has been officially handed out to MSDN and TechNet subscribers today.

How do you have a subscription? How would I get one?

MSDN Subscriptions | Buy or renew an MSDN Subscription through Microsoft of a qualified reseller

Full Version Software Evaluation & Technical Resources | TechNet Plus

May 5th for everyone...

Well got RC1 installed. Loaded Avast free AV and the latest Nvidia driver for Win 7. Logitech drivers as well for mouse and keyboard. No issue with any other drivers. All the basics were adopted upon install of 7.

As to the 4GB RAM question as you can see in this link Windows "sees" all 4GB of RAM but only uses 2.5 as 1.5 is being used by my hardware. Sort of surprising to me. I note that this is usually associated with graphics and I am running two 8800 GTX in SLi but each of those cards have 768MB RAM on the card or at least that was my understanding.

Appears both strange and coincidental that 2 x 768 = 1536 which is so close to the 1.5 GB in "Hardware Reserved".

Hmmm... Will have to investigate further. Any ideas welcome of course.

Anyway here is the explanation of "Hardware Reserved" RAM:

32-bit Memory Limitations Explained

This is my My Computer Properties box:



This is the Resource Monitor / Memory tab found in the Task Manager:



All that being said this OS is smooth and fun to use. Like a new well oiled machine it just glides!

I will load Steam and some of my games next. Crysis no doubt.

Tisk tisk jephree, still with 32-bit?