It would be interesting to find out if the 1.5 gb is still hardware reserved in the 64-bit. Maybe there is a limitation?!

Watch the calendar. The RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will notify you two weeks before the bi-hourly shutdowns start. To avoid interruption, you’ll need to install a non-expired version of Windows before March 1, 2010. You’ll also need to install the programs and data that you want to use.

Anybody read that???

Does that mean the full release?

PS: I'd like to have a ban! icon.

What more do you want? A total free ride? If so, use Linux! Or is this just MS bashing for the sake of MS bashing.

After a very generous trial period, you are given the option to pay, or uninstall - and you can continue to use it until June 1, 2010. That's more than a year! Do you want someone to give you a computer too? Pay your utilities for you while they are at it?

As Ed Bott noted here,

Microsoft is treating Windows 7 as the world’s most ambitious shareware release ever. Try it. Use it for a few months, or even a whole year. If you like it, buy it. If you don’t like it, go back to your old Windows version or switch to a completely different OS.

Seems more than fair to me.

I was just bashing MS after all this seems to me to be a new low even for them.

I've got my copy so I'll see what they've changed.

Originally Posted by Digerati

What more do you want? A total free ride? If so, use Linux! Or is this just MS bashing for the sake of MS bashing.

After a very generous trial period, you are given the option to pay, or uninstall - and you can continue to use it until June 1, 2010. That's more than a year! Do you want someone to give you a computer too? Pay your utilities for you while they are at it?

As Ed Bott noted here, Seems more than fair to me.

I agree. I am surprised they let it go beyond the RTM actually.

Originally Posted by jephree

I agree. I am surprised they let it go beyond the RTM actually.

Ok I'll give them that. When is it suppose to be released?

October 23 2009.

I was just bashing MS after all this seems to me to be a new low even for them.

A new low? Letting folks use new products for free for more than a year? Gimme a break. It is clear you know nothing of about the history of previous Windows releases and are just making stuff up. Not cool. This is BY FAR a new high for MS. They have been extremely open to developers and hardware makers to ensure they get off their butts and create good drivers and compatible updates. We had to wait months AFTER Vista final was released before we saw Vista drivers. There are Win7 drivers out now - all over the place.

I'll not hesitate to bash MS when due - but not when unjust, or just to be cute or clever. Its neither - and not informative. You freely accepted the terms to use the product at zero cost for a whole year, but bash the maker when they won't let you keep it. Who's taking the low road?

Ok I appreciate the time they are appearing to make the OS available for free but I don't like how for a good chunk of that time it is practically useless because of the automatic shutdowns. Just reading that set me off into a MS bashing mood. I hope that you understand.