We were keen to try the first public beta of Windows Vista which was released back in June 2006. After the final release in January 2007, we decided to implement the new operating system which caused no-end of issues. Nearly every application had to be upgraded and most of these paid-for upgrades through 2007 made 'Vista compatibility' as their primary new feature. How frustrating to think that a new feature was support for the new operating system. Worse, some of these updated apps didn't even support the new OS correctly and were somewhat rushed out to offer 'compatibility'.

We're now back at the same stage again where Microsoft are close to offering the first public preview of Windows 7. Although we've yet to test Windows 7, again we here of compatibility issues with key software such as Skype. However, bear in mind that Windows 7 is an evolution over the current Windows Vista, so compatibility issues should be far easier to solve for software developers.

There are a number of new features within Windows 7, which you can see for yourself at the Windows 7 public preview page that will also host the download later this afternoon.

Windows 7 public preview link.

09 Jan 2009