Microsoft will be offering users a free version of Windows 7 starting May 5. PCPro reports:
Microsoft is effectively giving away Windows 7 free for a year with the launch of the Release Candidate.
The Release Candidate is now available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers, and will go on unlimited, general release on 5 May.
The software will not expire until 1 June 2010, giving testers more than a year’s free access to Windows 7.
“It’s available to as many people who see fit to use it, although we wouldn’t recommend it to just your average user,” John Curran, director of the Windows Client Group told PC Pro. “We’d very strongly encourage anyone on the beta to move to the Release Candidate.”
Crunchgear comments (and I agree):
By offering hackers and IT guys plenty of hands-on time with the upcoming OS, things could be looking up for Windows in general.
Microsoft says that Windows 7 will officially be released in January 2010.
Microsoft isn’t giving anything away for free. This is just a release candidate.
And how is ‘giving out a RC for free’ == ‘giving the finished product for free’?
I would rather charge them for using and testing an RC! Why should I take it for free and test for them for free?