Ballmer unleashes Windows 7 into public beta

Thu Jan 8, 2009 11:12AM EST

See Comments (39)

As was widely expected, at last night's CES keynote speech, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gave Windows 7 the full dog and pony show, formally announcing the availability of the upcoming operating system as a public beta.

Want to see what the fuss is all about? You can download it starting January 9 at www.microsoft.com/windows7 and give it a spin on your own PC. (You will have to burn the OS to a DVD in order to install it, so prepare accordingly.)

Ballmer acquitted himself admirably in his first CES keynote (a job that's been diligently performed by Bill Gates every year for as long as anyone can remember), but aside from the beta news, there was little that was truly earth-shaking in the presentation, largely consisting of demos of previously seen features and a lot of talk of corporate partnerships and economic tough love.

Ballmer also formally launched Windows Live Essentials, at last officially bringing it out of beta. Not much new here aside from its non-betaness. As well, Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, came out to discuss some largely well-known announcements, including the upcoming Halo games, plus more news about partnerships with hardware makers like Toshiba.

You can watch the entire keynote (82 minutes) at the link in the first paragraph.

Comments on Ballmer unleashes Windows 7 into public beta

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  • 26 Posted by hardcoregamer2k on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    The mess called Vista? Vista is amazing..but I have Vista 64 and everything in my PC is up to date so lol

  • 27 Posted by castilloast3@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    Do you know if Windows 7 will still use Microsoft Office 2007, or will Microsoft release another office program?

  • 29 Posted by hlawlink on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    All the tools with their anti-Vista and anti-MS comments just make me laugh. My 2 and a half year old laptop runs Vista without a hitch. In addition, it is way more responsive compared to XP. I dont know what you guys are doing, but you cant put all blame on the OS for what is most likely a user problem. Cant wait to use Windows 7 if it makes my computer run even smoother.

  • 30 Posted by shadowman_26 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    Windows 7 has it name because it is the 7th release of an operating system from Microsoft. And yes, you can run Office 2007 on 7. I have been running 7 since christmas. It is very fast and responsive. One thing I do not like in 7 is IE8 beta. What a horrible internet browsers. Install FF and you're all set to go.

  • 31 Posted by twill0523 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    All these people crying about Vista must not have a good pc or never gave Vista a chance after the updates. I have Vista 64 and I am a extreme famer and love Vista, I havent had a single issue yet. I cant wait to download this onto a spare HD and try it. As for people crying about getting this as a ISO format and burn to DVD, Well if you find that difficult, maybe you shoulndt even try Windows 7, Its way over your simple head. Shawn

  • 32 Posted by twill0523 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    I do agree though about Vista owners. I just recently bought Vista, I fell or wish I could get a discount on the new Windows 7, Ive only had Vista for about 3 months . I kinds feel I got burned. So Far I love Vista 64. My comment about I had a typo, I meant Gamer, not Famer ...LOL

  • 33 Posted by soupfreak on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    It seems that people who are using 64 bit Vista are the only ones happy with this OS. In my IT experience Vista is useable as long as you beat the thing into submission. UAC is a nightmare for the end user when dealing with legacy software, and in most cases ends up getting shut off because they need to get work done. I also have to consider the hardware requirements for Vista and budget restraints (we have this little thing called a recession going on right now dontcha know!) Our company is working just fine with XP, and hopefully will continue to work just fine for at least another 3 years! Yes, the OS does have to advance to take advantage of newer technology, but we don't need 5 different flavors of the same thing! Just give us 32 bit and a 64 bit version and be done with it! It will lower your overhead and end much consumer confusion in the long run. (Are you listening M$???)

  • 34 Posted by tgijosh on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    Veluvu2002....Victor...Learn English before you try to bash someone

  • 37 Posted by concernedmale2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    So, are we to believe that this is it better then Vista? Call me old fashion, but what was wrong with Windows XP? Alot of people are still running it. Most dumped their Vista and Reloaded XP on their machines. I myself will most likely wait and let all of you have the problems before I go putting my trust in another useless product. When Windows XP came out and I got it on my machine I was so impressed over that Windows 98 as were most of you. Very user friendly, as apposed to that "Nightmare" Vista and its hodgpodge way of opperating.

  • 38 Posted by aristocraticboi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    Windows 7 sounds as enticing as going to the electric chair to get executed. Look at vista it was like uploading a demon from heck to possess your computer, and look the 30 gigabyte zune they just stopped working and lets not forget about millennium it was worse than vista.

  • 39 Posted by aristocraticboi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    Windows 7 sounds as enticing as going to the electric chair to get executed. Look at vista it was like uploading a demon from heck to possess your computer, and look the 30 gigabyte zune they just stopped working and lets not forget about millennium it was worse than vista.

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