Technology enthusiasts know that a new version of Windows is coming in October called Windows 7. The betas and trial versions of the consumer software have been available for a while and were very popular. One thing that Microsoft had not offered was a way for business customers to get a trial edition of Windows 7 Enterprise.
Microsoft has now announced that business users who want to test and try Windows 7 Enterprise Edition can now get the OS from the Springboard Series on TechNet. The trial version of Windows 7 Enterprise is good for 90 days, after which users will be forced to buy the software.
Microsoft notes that this version of Windows 7 is specifically for enterprise users who don’t yet have access to Windows 7 through a software assurance volume license agreement, MSDN/TechNet subscriptions, or software assurance agreements allowing the download of Windows 7 RTM.
This version of Windows 7 is specifically not for consumers. Consumers who download and install the Windows 7 Enterprise software will be unable to purchase the Enterprise version when Windows 7 officially launches on October 22.
Enterprise users wanting to get the new evaluation version will need to grab it fast. Microsoft reports that there are a limited number of licenses available and the evaluation version will only be offered while supplies last.
After the 90-day trial period, the software will shut down each hour and the user will be forced to buy the full version and do a complete fresh install of the OS.
The evaluation version of Enterprise will be offered in English, French, Spanish, German, and Japanese flavors in both 32 and 64-bit versions.
Source: DailyTech
