Acknowledging that its release of Windows 7 public beta "was not ideal," Microsoft said it will suspend the software's 2.5 million download limit for a couple of weeks.
Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc announced the move in a company blog last week:
Due to an enormous surge in demand, the download experience was not ideal so we listened and took the necessary steps to ensure a good experience. We have clearly heard that many of you want to check out the Windows 7 Beta and, as a result, we have decided remove the initial 2.5 million limit on the public beta for the next two weeks (thru January 24th). During that time you will have access to the beta even if the download number exceeds the 2.5 million unit limit.
The software was supposed to be made available last week, but the company delayed the release after a day filled with Web site problems.
The company has said it is aiming for several million testers of the beta version, the availability of which was announced last Wednesday night by Steve Ballmer in his keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show. Microsoft has been aiming to have the final version ready to be on PCs for this year's holiday shopping season, but Windows boss Bill Veghte said it is still too soon to say whether the company will make that time frame. Officially, Microsoft has promised that it will be out before the third anniversary of Vista's January 2007 mainstream launch.
This article was first published as a blog post on CNET News.com.
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