Looks like Microsoft is, as promised, skipping Beta2 and moving straight to RC1. This is very good news as it looks more and more promising that we will see Win7 GA this summer rather than the Fall or later. Windows 7 will be a very important release for many of us in the tech community as it will allow us to finally get the XP monkey off our backs.

Microsoft Watch - Windows 7 - Next Windows 7 Milestone: Release Candidate

Good collection of Windows 7 tips and shortcuts. Pretty handy stuff.

20 Windows 7 Tweaks & Tips – Every Secret Uncovered to Date | Maximum PC

I will be keeping a list here of applications that I have tested in Windows 7 and whether or not they work correctly.

• Zune software – Works properly
• Yahoo Instant Messenger – Works properly
• iTunes – Works properly
• Twhirl (Twitter client) – Works properly
• Windows Live Applications (Messenger, Writer, Toolbar, etc) – Works properly
• Office 2007 Enterprise – Works properly
• Windows Live Mesh – Works but has a bug that disabled window transparency when loaded (EDIT: This bug is fixed with latest Mesh update)
• Google Chrome – Installs but will not run
• Apple QuickTime – Works properly
• Virtual Server 2007 – Works properly
• Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0 – Works properly

Just a few thoughts after a few days with the 64-bit Beta of Windows 7 (Build 7000).

• Installation is very smooth and incredibly fast. Maybe 30 minutes soup to nuts, even on a laptop on battery power
• Very pretty interface. I know it’s shallow, but it sure is a good looking UI. Menu and windows transparencies and effects look great and actually add to the overall effect.
• The new task bar is very interesting. Not sure how I feel about it yet, though. All running instances of the same program are combined into one icon, then when you hover your mouse over it, each instance appears as an icon above it. The biggest problem I have with it so far is that launching new instances of the program can be tricky. For example, with all of these IE windows open, the only way to open a new IE session is to right-click on the task bar icon and choose to crate a new instance. Maybe there is a simpler way but I haven’t found it yet.

• The small task bar icons on the lower left part of the screen are equally maddening. In XP and Vista, you had the ability to show them or not… not much individual choice. In W7, you can customize exactly which icons appear and which do not. You can even choose to show the icons only when something new has occurred (like a new email has arrived in Outlook). This is all fine and dandy, but I am struggling getting it to display the way I want it. I may be stuck in the old way of thinking so it could just be a training issue, but when icons that you expect to appear do not, it can be disconcerting.

It’s only been a few days of actual use so I will definitely post more when I have it.

FINALLY managed to track down the bits to Windows 7 Beta 64. That was way harder than it should have been.

Anyway... I've decided to go all-out and install it on my production desktop. I know, I know... but I'm a big kid. I can handle it. Besides, I always have my laptop to fall back on. Im very eager to see how this version of Windows performs, particularly on lower end hardware. We are knee-deep into a mobility initiative that could really use something like this if it can work well on an Atom processor and 1GB of RAM. Let's just say that Vista.... doesn't.

I'll update you soon!