Due to the huge interest for the first beta of Windows 7, Microsoft has decided to make to lift the restrictions on the number of the copies that can be downloaded by tech enthusiasts.

 

Windows 7 Beta 1 was announced by Steve Ballmer during his CES keynote and it was available on Microsoft website starting last Friday. Initially, Microsoft said that only 2.5 million copies would be available for download.

 

However, during the weekend Microsoft’s servers were halted due to the heavy traffic generated by the users eager to try the new operating system.

Microsoft has made changes to their server infrastructure in order to accommodate the huge number of downloads and now Windows 7 Beta 1 could be downloaded without any bottlenecks.

 

Microsoft Windows communications manager Brandon LeBlanc announced in a blog post that due to the download problems the company has decided to offer Windows 7 Beta 1 as a free download until January 24, without any number restrictions.

 

Windows 7 Beta 1 was introduced by Steve Ballmer as the best version of Windows ever. Yeah, I know that they said the same thing about Windows Vista, but so far the early testers of Windows 7 have noted that the new operating system seems to be superior to Vista in terms like speed, stability and usability.

 

Of course, Microsoft still has to disclose a lot of details about Windows 7 starting with the second beta and finishing with the launch date.

So far, the Redmond-based company said that Windows 7 could be made available in early 2010, but judging on how fast the things are moving at Microsoft, it is possible that the new OS will see the light of day sometimes in the last quarter of this year.

 

It remains to be seen also in how many editions Microsoft will decide to release windows 7. If you remember windows Vista had nine editions, starting from Basic to Business.

 

However, this first beta of Windows 7 is set to expire on August 29 and until then I’m sure that Microsoft will come up with more details about its new OS.