Microsoft' claims that Windows 7 was “Engineered by us. Inspired by you,” which is the culmination of the Redmond company's constant highlighting of the fact that it managed to listen closely to end users when developing the next iteration of the Windows client. “Two years ago we started asking PC owners what they wanted from Windows 7. The result?” Windows 7 of course, currently closing in the RTM deadline, which is planned by the end of this month. For end users who need to get a taste of Windows 7, but don't want to deal with downloading and installing the Release Candidate build of the operating system, Microsoft has all the major features of the platform on “parade.”

Even at this point in time the software giant continues to offer for download the RC Build 7100 release of Windows 7. Downloads of Windows 7 RC will only be discontinued in mid-August 2009, but even after that date product keys to activate the operating system will still be available. Users need to understand that the Redmond company has changed Windows 7 since it released Build 7100. Windows 7 Build 7264 from the RTM-branch, leaked into the wild at the end of the past week, offers the closest development milestone to RTM as possible. The build no longer accepts Windows 7 Beta and RC keys for activation.

But one thing is clear. Testers that grabbed Beta Build 7000 of Windows 7 need to get off that release as soon as possible. As of July 1st Windows 7 Beta copies still running have begun to shut down every couple of hours. Come August 1st, 2009, Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 will expire entirely and the non-genuine experience of the OS will kick in. The answer is to move to Windows 7 RC as soon as possible. Build 7100 will enter the first phase of expiration at the start of March 2010, but will die off completely on June 1st, 2010.

Jumping as high as Build 7264 is not recommended since there is no way to legitimately activate the operating system and in this sense usage is limited to a period of 120 days. But if you just want to make an idea of what Windows 7 has to offer, Microsoft has an entire section of the Windows Vista's successor website dedicated to the major features available.

32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 (Release Candidate) RC Build 7100.0.090421-1700 is available for download here.

- 64-bit Support
- Accessibility
- Action Center 
- Aero
- Aero Peek
- Aero Shake
- Backup and Restore
- BitLocker
- Desktop
- Device Management
- Domain Join
- Gadgets
- Games Explorer
- Getting Started
- HomeGroup
- Internet Explorer 8
- Jump Lists
- Libraries
- Location Aware Printing
- Multiplayer Games
- Networking
- Parental Controls
- Performance Improvements
- Play To
- Power Management
- Snap
- Snipping Tool
- Sticky Notes
- System Restore
- Tablet PC
- Windows Anytime Upgrade
- Windows Defender
- Windows Easy Transfer
- Windows Experience Index
- Windows Firewall
- Windows Live Essentials
- Windows Media Center
- Windows Media Player 12
- Windows Search
- Windows Taskbar
- Windows Touch
-Windows Update
- Windows XP Mode