Microsoft announced the availability of Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC), to MSDN and TechNet subscribers for download today. This release will be available to the public on 5 May 2009

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Microsoft has announced the release to manufacturing (RTM) of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) along with Windows Server 2008 SP2

Windows Vista SP2 includes all updates that have been delivered since SP1, as well as support for new types of hardware and emerging hardware standards. However, as was the case with the RTM of Vista SP1, the SP2 gold bits are not yet available for download. Furthermore, Microsoft failed to provide the actual deadline when it planned to make Service Pack 2 available to users, only indicating that this scenario would happen sometime in the second quarter of 2009. Expect nothing more than a standard service pack from Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2, with the focus put on delivering all the updates released since SP1 in a single package as well as introducing support for new types of hardware and embracing emerging hardware standards.

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Windows XP Mode will be available in the new Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) as a separate download and enables Windows 7 Professional users to seamlessly run many Windows XP applications in Windows 7. This feature is designed to help businesses that are still using older Windows XP applications migrate easily to Windows 7.

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A recent survey of IT professionals has found 83% have no plans to upgrade to Windows 7 in its first year of release. 41% will wait until at least two years after release.

Cautious business IT administrators are more willing to stay with the devil they know, Windows XP, than risk the devil they don’t, even if the latter is the highly-touted Windows 7, according to research company Dimensional Research, which surveyed more than 1,100 IT professionals in March,

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Microsoft today (14 April) will cut off mainstream support for Windows XP and Office 2003, moving both products into the Extended support phase, which will last until 2014

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Microsoft has gone from having an official policy of never mentioning its competitors by name to not only naming them but continually shaming them too.

A recent article on the Windows Team Blog showed that Microsoft have sponsored a white paper (PDF link) in which the writer, analyst Roger Kay shows a “tax return” comparing the cost of a PC and Apple Mac purchase, making the case that buyers can save money buying two Windows PCs as opposed to two Macs.

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Microsoft has officially confirmed that it will allow volume licensing customers to downgrade Windows 7 not only to Windows Vista but also to Windows XP.

Windows 7 copies will come with downgrade rights. These rights, stipulated in the End User License Agreement, (EULA) enable buyers of Windows 7 to deploy and run Windows Vista or Windows XP instead, with the Service Packs best suited to their needs. Essentially, customers that buy Windows 7 can use Vista or XP under the same license agreement without paying any additional money to Microsoft

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Ktec Training have announced an Easter Offer where their MCSE 2003 Training Course Bundle is now £199 – Saving £100 was £299. The price is for a 12 Month Subscription with Anytime Online Access & includes video simulations and self test questions as well as downloadable PDF Notes.

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