Did you install the release candidate of Windows 7 on your laptop, boasting to your non-tech friends how you had a free version of the new OS before it was released? Well all that’s about to come crashing down around you, with Microsoft sending out a gentle reminder that come March 1, your PC will start shutting down every two hours.
If you think that means you just get a break every couple of hours, keep in mind that there’s no Autosave feature in this – everything unsaved when the PC shuts down will be lost. And if you manage to put up with it until June, the C software will then take away your wallpaper and display a notice that says “This copy of Windows is not genuine” in the lower right corner above the taskbar.
So best do something about it before the end of this month. And if you’d rather not fork out the cash for Windows 7, you could always try a version of Linux…
Dave
Friday, February 12, 2010 at 12:29 PMI wonder how long it’ll take someone to figure out how to stop it from Auto-shut down, without actually activating it… if it could be done.
matt
Friday, February 12, 2010 at 1:05 PMyes, we knew it wasn’t free, its worth a couple of hundred dollars over linux any day, I would be surprised if it didn’t give you some chance to save your work, much like normal shutdown sends close commands to all apps which brings up their save before close dialogue.
I also couldn’t care less about the desktop background!? really? same with the windows starter outcry, and the first “feature” of the ipad being mentioned: “wow, you can change the background”
I care more about the boot menu that comes up every time you boot up, making boot up take 30 secs longer if you’re not around to hurry it along.
and even with all these things in place, I’d still find it more usable than OSX. :P
Jamie Carl
Friday, February 12, 2010 at 1:52 PMBeen using Windows 7 RC since release and really need to upgrade. Network printing doesn’t work well (if at all) and my bluetooth stack has just decided to ‘disappear’.
Lucky I’ve got a copy to install and just need a day where I’m not working so I can reinstall and reload.
asd
Friday, February 12, 2010 at 2:26 PMa quick reminder for any uni students out there (or if you know a uni student who has already bought windows 7 you can use their email address so you can grab the copy yourself) you can grab a copy of windows 7 (home or professonal, sorry ultimate not included) for cheap for only $50 AUD. Offer ends 31st of march so be quick if your keen to take advantage of it.
asd
Friday, February 12, 2010 at 2:26 PMSorry forgot the web site
http://www.microsoft.com/australia/windows/offers/windows-7-student-upgrade.aspx
orbit79
Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 4:47 PMYes, but can one upgrade from RC? I can’t seem to find out anywhere.
ThePengwin
Friday, February 12, 2010 at 3:56 PMFantastic. Thats my birthday. What a great present. Getting my nicely set up OS canned :( I guess if noone gets it for my birthday i might take on Ubuntu or Fedora :)