Windows 7 Beta Download Ends

Yesterday was the final day to download the beta of Windows 7 — but if you've started you can still finish.

Microsoft has announced that yesterday was the final day to start downloading the beta of its new Windows 7 OS. However, anyone who’d begun the download prior to that date has until the 12th to finish, and those who’ve downloaded but haven’t yet obtained a product key will be able to obtain one past that date.

There’s no word on exactly how many people have downloaded the beta, but the demand was so high on the first weekend it was available that it brought servers to a halt, and Microsoft ended up extending the availability period for the download.

After the unpopularity of Vista, Microsoft desperately needs Windows 7 to be popular if it’s to keep its dominance. As of November, its market share had fallen below 90% for the first time, according to Information Week.