Microsoft has not only wrapped up the first Beta of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2, but is also close to releasing the first Beta of Windows 7. At the end of October and in November, Microsoft made available Windows 7 pre-Beta Build 6801 Milestone 3 to participants at its PDC 2008 and WinHEC 2008 conferences. Now, the attendees at the Microsoft Developer Conference are next in line to receive their fair share of Windows 7 bits – this time, not the pre-Beta, but the fully fledged Beta of the operating system. 

“Attend an upcoming MSDN Developer Conference and you will receive a Windows 7 Beta DVD. Note: No date has been announced for the Windows 7 Beta. If you attend an MDC event we will make sure you receive a Windows 7 Beta DVD when it is available,” revealed Microsoft Architect Evangelist Bob Familiar.

Microsoft has scheduled MSDN Developer Conference events for 12/9/08 in Houston, TX; 12/11/08 Orlando, FL; 12/16/08 Atlanta, GA; 1/13/09 Chicago, IL; 1/13/09 Minneapolis, MN; 1/16/09 Washington, DC; 1/20/09 New York, NY; 1/22/09 Boston, MA; 1/22/09 Detroit, MI; 1/26/09 Dallas, TX; and 2/19/09 San Francisco, CA.

While Familiar was indeed careful not to mention an availability deadline for the upcoming milestone of Windows 7, Microsoft has already confirmed that it would ship the first Beta bits early in 2009. In this context, MDC participants will not receive their Win7 Beta DVDs on the spot, but rather by mail.

“My understanding is that the DVD will not be ready for the first few show dates but will be mailed to each attendee. We are targeting to have the DVDs in the materials from 1/13/2009 on. So, I would imagine the folks attending the Houston, Orlando and Atlanta shows this month will receive their DVDs around mid January as well. That's an assumption on my part. Could be earlier or later, but they will get them. Make sure your Microsoft profile has the correct address. Might come in handy for this event,” added Microsoft Evangelist Keith Combs.