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PDC attendees will get pre-beta Windows 7

In a blog post, Microsoft confirms that it will have an early version of Windows 7 ready for developers by next month's conference.

Ina Fried Former Staff writer, CNET News
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley.
Ina Fried

Microsoft confirmed on Wednesday that developers attending a Microsoft conference next month will get an early version of Windows 7 to take home.

Microsoft

In a blog posting, Microsoft said that those at the Professional Developers Conference, scheduled for Oct. 27-30 in Los Angeles, will get a pre-beta version of Windows 7.

"With Windows 7 at PDC2008 you will see advances across the full range of Windows--including the kernel, networking, hardware and devices, and user-interface," Microsoft said.

One thing that won't be part of Windows 7--as first confirmed by CNET News earlier this week--are the e-mail, photo-editing and movie-making applications that were part of Windows Vista. Microsoft plans to make those available as downloadable Windows Live applications.

Late 2009 is the tentative target date for a general release of Windows 7.

The blog posting as well as several new Windows 7-related sessions were noted earlier on Wednesday by ZDNet blogger Mary Jo Foley. Screenshots of recent internal builds of Windows 7 have also been making the rounds on various enthusiast sites.