So, what about Windows 7 Enterprise?

Midway between Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate is Windows 7 Enterprise (I know, is a lot of similar names). You may think, and rightfully so, that Ultimate is the most appropriate version for your company, but it's actually the Enterprise version that makes the cut. To name a few features: DirectAccess, BranchCache, Federated Search, BitLocker, AppLocker, Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and licensing rights to four virtual operating systems. Last, but not least, a subsystem for UNIX-based Applications (SUA)that can be used to compile and run POSIX applications in Windows. In addition, Windows 7 Ultimate has its drawbacks in the Enterprise like no volume licensing, the inclusion of consumer features, like Media Center, not easily managed using Group Policy and support is limited to only 5 years as opposed to a 10-year support with Windows 7 Enterprise. To know more jump to this page. Also, get a 90-day trial version of Windows 7 Enterprise.

Service Pack 1: a safer and more reliable Windows 7

Two weeks ago, today, Service Pack 1 RTM (release to manufacturing or final version) for Windows 7 (and for Windows Server 2008 R2) was available to the general public after the beta version had circulated for several months. KB 976932 reported then that "SP1 for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2 is a recommended collection of updates and improvements to Windows that are combined into a single installable update." Learn how to get and install SP1 and if you are more into the tech side see the Deployment Guide for both operating systems. I had previously tested the beta version in a Windows 7 Enterprise version running in a virtual machine and was just expecting for this final release to install it in my Windows 7 Ultimate machine. So far, everything all right.

Free Windows 7 timeline

I bet that a this point in time you already downloaded and installed one of the best operating systems ever created by Microsoft (ain't the latest version or model of anything supposed to be the best?). Well, just a reminder of the key dates to keep in mind: downloads of the RC will be available up until August 20, 2009, and the expiration date of such a treat will be on June 1, 2010, but before that your PC will start shutting down every two hours starting on March 1, 2010. And if you're still running a copy of Windows 7 Beta, it will shut down on August 1, 2009, that is, on this coming weekend!

Windows 7 RC ready for downloading

Since April 30 Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) version is ready to be downloaded for MSDN and TechNet subscribers, and this Tuesday, May 5, it will be available to everyone else at least through June 30. What this means is that Windows 7 is just one step ahead to be launched officially. I had predicted that Windows 7 would be released on November of 2009 but things are going faster and we should see the RTM version ("Release to Manufacturing") or "gold version", meaning that the software is ready for mass distribution, probably soon after the summer. Visit the Windows 7 official site for all the information you may need.