Microsoft confirms: no beta 2 for

If the development cycle of Windows Vista, the current Microsoft
operating system, planned for two successive beta versions, it does
not go along with his successor, Windows 7, confirmed Friday the
publisher via the blog dedicated this new OS.

Beta 1 of Windows 7 will be directly followed by an RC or Release
Candidate, which will provide a definitive overview of the features of
Windows 7, a few weeks before seem RTM or Release to Manufacturing,
which means that the system is ready to be replicated on a large
scale. It finally pave the way for the final version, called step GA,
or General Availability, which correspond to the commercial launch of
Windows 7.

For now, Microsoft is careful not to give any indication as to the
development schedule, and it is unclear when the RC release of Windows
7.
Quote:
"We are on track, and we are making progress," is limited to the
publisher. "We adopt an approach focused on quality, so as to finalize
the product, and not allow ourselves to be guided by time
constraints."