All Windows Vista haters rejoice! Window 7 BETA in now available and Microsoft has said that the full version will be out to the public in Q4 2009.

Apparently even without Bill Gates Microsoft can still listen to their customers by making an OS that is much quicker than it’s Vista predecessor.

I don’t see a posting on the Windows 7 blog, but when I went to the Windows 7 page last Saturday morning, I found the following message and to go ahead and get the code.

‘The Windows 7 Beta is now available for download’

The software was a day late (it was supposed to be out last Friday)

The software was supposed to be made available on Friday, but the company delayed the release after a day filled with Web site problems.

You can also download the Windows 7 beta from CNET Download.com.

So Microsoft has now offered up some recommended specs for the beta, but cautioned those could change for the final release. It called for a 1GHz processor (either 32-bit or 64-bit), 1GB of system memory, 16Gb of disk space, support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory, as well as a DVD burner and Internet access.

The software maker also cautioned users should have some technical skills, such as the ability to “burn an ISO file to make an install DVD. (A good example of what we mean by ‘technical’).” It also said folks should know how to install Windows (uh, yeah) and set up a network.

I downloaded the ISO file and installed in my VMware workstation 6.5 installation. I have posted screen shots below for anyone that would like to see what it looks like without having to download and install it yourself.

Please note that this version will expire on August 1^st, 2009 but Microsoft has been known to allow extensions to the beta licensing.

Furthermore, the company cautioned that the beta is not the quality one should expect from a final release. “It can be glitchy–so don’t use a PC you need every day.”