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CNET SPECIAL COVERAGE:

Windows 7

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Windows 7: Moving beyond Vista

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Microsoft aims to make a much different first impression with Windows 7 than it did with Vista, its oft-maligned predecessor. Now that the beta is out, the test begins.

Featured stories

Microsoft: Server version of Windows 7 this year

In another sign Windows 7 is on track for release this year, the head of the Windows Server unit says the server operating system based on Windows 7 will ship in 2009.
(Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)
April 3, 2009

Microsoft: Lots to turn off in Windows 7

In a blog posting, Microsoft notes that it is not just Internet Explorer that can be disabled. In fact, many Windows components can be disabled, should one so choose.
(Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)
March 6, 2009

Latest coverage

Microsoft Windows 7: Upgrade or just buy a pizza?

Microsoft's proposed Windows 7 upgrade strategy is sure to anger customers. When will it learn to make the computing experience better? Read more

Posted by Dave Rosenberg April 10, 2009 1:13 PM PDT

Windows 7 beta upgrade won't be easy

Microsoft says that it wants people to go back to Vista and upgrade from that to the upcoming "release candidate" version. Read more

Posted by Ina Fried April 7, 2009 1:53 PM PDT

Windows 7 will allow downgrades too

Software maker will let users of certain editions go back to Windows Vista or even Windows XP if they wish. The company says it's expanding Vista downgrade rights program a bit too. Read more

Posted by Ina Fried April 6, 2009 2:25 PM PDT

Microsoft: Server version of Windows 7 this year

In another sign Windows 7 is on track for release this year, the head of the Windows Server unit says the server operating system based on Windows 7 will ship in 2009. Read more

Posted by Ina Fried April 3, 2009 10:55 AM PDT

Microsoft touches more on Windows 7

In a blog posting, the company expands on the thinking that went into Windows 7's touch features and notes how it is tweaking the touch features following beta testing. Read more

Posted by Ina Fried March 25, 2009 3:28 PM PDT

Full version of Windows 7 on Samsung Netbooks? Maybe

Samsung exec says the decision hinges on what Microsoft charges for Home Premium and other versions of the revamped Windows operating system. Read more

Posted by Erica Ogg March 25, 2009 11:22 AM PDT

ATI gets graphics ready for Windows 7

Catalyst 9.3, a new "unified" driver set that should improve performance and some memory problems, supports both Windows Vista and Windows 7. Read more

Posted by Brooke Crothers March 18, 2009 8:15 PM PDT

Microsoft's complex Netbook dance

The software maker has done the technical work to make Windows 7 work on Netbooks, but the low-cost laptops remain a thorny business challenge. Read more

Posted by Ina Fried March 12, 2009 4:00 AM PDT

Microsoft wants to 'rescue' apps for Windows 7

Company is looking at what made some Windows programs not run in Vista. In a few cases, it's been able to make programs that didn't run in Vista work in Windows 7. Read more

Posted by Ina Fried March 11, 2009 9:33 AM PDT

Analyst sees Windows 7 done by summer

Collins Stewart analyst says he sees Microsoft finalizing the operating system by June or July. He also predicts a search deal with Yahoo sooner rather than later. Read more

Posted by Ina Fried March 9, 2009 9:57 AM PDT

Microsoft: Lots to turn off in Windows 7

In a blog posting, Microsoft notes that it is not just Internet Explorer that can be disabled. In fact, many Windows components can be disabled, should one so choose. Read more

Posted by Ina Fried March 6, 2009 2:12 PM PST

Microsoft eyes Windows 7 broadband bundles

The company is in talks with telecom providers and others to work out how Netbooks running Windows 7 could be bundled with other hardware and services. Read more

Posted by Tom Espiner, David Meyer March 5, 2009 6:37 AM PST

Microsoft may let Windows 7 users turn browser off

Testers say post-beta versions of the new operating system have added an option to turn off the built-in Internet Explorer 8 Web browser. Read more

Posted by Ina Fried March 4, 2009 1:46 PM PST

Windows 7 gets down to business

Microsoft talks about what it's doing to try to make enterprises more jazzed about the new Windows than they were with Vista. Read more

Posted by Ina Fried March 4, 2009 9:00 AM PST

What's changing through Windows 7 beta

Microsoft isn't making any big changes from the beta, but as already noted, there will be a lot of little ones. Microsoft has now posted a list of them. Read more

Posted by Ina Fried February 26, 2009 7:37 AM PST

Windows 7 testers want their voices heard

Microsoft is trying to reassure the hundreds of thousands of people testing the new operating system that their feedback matters. At the same time, don't expect huge changes. Read more

Posted by Ina Fried February 25, 2009 6:09 PM PST

Windows 7 beta users to get 'updates'

Microsoft plans to send patches to test the operating system's updating mechanism. The company stresses that the updates won't actually add new features or update anything. Read more

Posted by Ina Fried February 19, 2009 11:05 PM PST

I'll wait for Windows 7 before buying a new PC

Don Reisinger says Windows 7 is an outstanding operating system, but there's more to this story than its superiority. Read more

Posted by Don Reisinger February 19, 2009 10:27 AM PST

Buzz Out Loud 911: Giggles per dollar

Nintendo is smashing the competition in game consoles and Rafe thinks he knows the reason why. The G/D ratio will probably become a new economic leading indicator. We also determine just how long you should wait for Windows 7. Read more

Posted by Tom Merritt February 13, 2009 12:20 PM PST

The case for the $50 Windows 7 upgrade

Microsoft might be releasing Windows 7 this year and that means talk about upgrades is back. Don Reisinger thinks $50 is a fair price for an upgrade to Windows 7. Read more

Posted by Don Reisinger February 13, 2009 11:53 AM PST

Forum

Windows 7 forum
Join the discussion on the CNET forum on Windows 7.

Videos

Ballmer on Windows 7, economy, Google
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer tells CNET News' Ina Fried the downturn will have ripple effects across the tech sector. (1/9/2009)

First Look: Windows 7 Ultimate Build 6801
CNET looks at a prebeta build of the next Microsoft operating system to follow Windows Vista. (11/4/2008)

Touching Windows 7
CNET News' Ina Fried gets a hands-on (literally) with the new features of Windows 7. (11/3/2008)

Inside Windows 7's new desktop
Ina Fried gets an in-depth look at the taskbar and other new features. (11/3/2008)

Microsoft hopes 7 is lucky
Consumers can expect more "dessert" and fewer "vegetables" from the new operating system. (10/24/2008)

Vista, Windows 7, and more
With just two weeks until a key developer conference, Windows watcher Ina Fried answers your questions. (10/15/2008)

Ballmer touts Windows 7 features
Microsoft CEO reveals that Windows 7 is going to be a major release, not just a Vista update. (10/17/2008)

Windows 7: The information lockdown
Why is so little known about Windows 7? Microsoft is maintaining a cloak of silence around its next major release. (5/22/2008)

Photo galleries

Images: A virtual look at Windows 7
CNET News' Ina Fried installed the beta operating system on her iMac using VMware. Here's how it looked.(1/29/2009)

Hands-on look at Windows 7 multitouch
By adding multitouch tech to Windows 7, Microsoft wants to create an OS that feels different from Vista.(11/12/2008)

What else is in Windows 7
Some features haven't gotten as much attention as others. Here are some that have caught our eye. (11/10/2008)

Windows 7 on the go
At WinHEC in Los Angeles, Microsoft shows off a variety of laptops running the next version of Windows. (11/5/2008)

Windows 7 Ultimate Build 6801
CNET News takes a look at the remarkably feature-rich and performance-stable alpha version. (10/28/2008)

Credits

Editor: Anne Dujmovic
Art: Ellen Ng