KUALA LUMPUR, 7 MAY 2009 – An important milestone has been reached with the availability to IT professionals of the release candidate (RC) of Windows 7, the latest operating system, according to software giant Microsoft Malaysia.
Microsoft corporate vice president, Windows product management, Mike Nash, said the new RC version of its operating system offered enhanced workforce effectiveness as one of its benefits and has been available for general download from 5 May on the Microsoft website.
"Currently, testers in Malaysia and around the world are invited to continue giving feedback," Nash said. "Previous feedback has contributed to new creative applications and innovations."
"One of the key things we added was improved security and also how applications interfaced with system partners,” he said. “Partners include Corel, Cyberlink, Sonic, ATI and NVIDIA."
TechNet and MSDN subscribers have had access to the Windows 7 RC since 30 April.
Consumerisation of IT
“More than 10,000 companies are participating in the development process behind Windows 7,” Nash said. “A good transition tool is that Windows can be used to run older applications through a Windows XP Mode. This is especially useful to small and medium business.”
“We've done a lot of things to make browsing the Internet, with Internet Explorer 8, a lot easier with the addition of tools,” he added. “These features were derived from customer feedback.”
“In the home, customers resorted to using thumb drives rather than setting up a home network,” he said. “The new OS makes it easier to set up a home network to move files around between different machines in the domestic network.”
Smoother transitions for Malaysian users
“Windows 7's BitLocker includes Bitlocker to Go Drive Encryption, which encrypts data on thumb drives,” Nash said. “This is an important vulnerability currently. Laptops also need to be able to work in different environments and systems. Windows 7 helps to smooth and simplify the transitions the laptop goes through during a working day.”
“We are proud to announce that Windows 7 is on track to be the most well-planned, highest quality Windows release ever,” said Microsoft Malaysia chief marketing and operations officer, Yasir Yousuff. “With quality as the number one priority, IT pros and small and medium businesses in Malaysia will find that Microsoft is committed to delivering tools and support that enhance manageability, security, software compatibility, as well as ease deployment and migration concerns, thus driving maximum value from IT investments.”
