Can anyone explain to me what exactly is meant by a beta os, as in windows 7? Thanks? -

I currently have windows vista, and do not particularly care for it. I will be purchasing another laptop, is it program I should purchase? Thanks for any help

Simply means a version released for testing purposes only. I ve been running Windows 7 for two weeks and it s fine. If you have a 160 GB HDD or bigger, perhaps you partition into two and install Windows 7 on the new empty partition. Then, like me, you will have a dual boot configuration Vista/Windows 7. Windows 7 downloads as an iso file when has to be burned to DVD (a CD is not big enough) which then becomes your boot disk

A Beta is a testing version of a program that the makers give away. In exchange people using the Beta put up with bugs, and usually have to participate in some kind of program to help the company fix problems with it. Microsoft is going to start selling Windows 7 in about a year s time. In the meantime, they have pre-released it to the public. You can get a copy off their website - although you ll need to hurry. I think they are planning on ending the Beta soon.

Beta means the version is still experimental. Usable but not yet fully tested. Windows 7 is such an op system. Don t believe you can buy Windows 7 yet. Even in beta form.