For those of you who still love Windows as much as me, you may or may not be aware that Windows 7, the latest in the operating franchise, will be released later this year. According to Computerworld, Microsoft plans to release the greatly improved follow-up to Vista on October 22. If you’re like me and cannot wait that long, you’re in luck.

Microsoft recently released RC1, a release candidate for Windows 7. This free download lets you preview the Ultimate Version of the new OS until June 1, 2010 (However, it will begin shutting down every 2 hours as a warning starting in March of next year). Although the RC is deemed stable by Microsoft, it might still contain a few minor bugs. I have been using it for over a week now, and have yet to find a single flaw in this version. My favorite improvement is the new taskbar, which I discussed on this blog way-back-when. With loads of new features and a simple user interface, I highly recommend taking the RC for a test drive. Also, you can upgrade without hassle if you are currently running Windows Vista.

A final note: I don’t recommend trying it out on your main computer, but if you have an old or secondary one that meets these specifications, go ahead and give it a try. The Windows 7 Release Candidate can be downloaded here. Post any questions in the comments and I’d be happy to answer.