With its Windows 7 operating system scheduled for October 22 launch, Microsoft has released a unique 90-day trial edition download of Windows 7 Enterprise "release to manufacturing" (RTM) version, in what can be called a "while supplies last" sort of offer! 

The Windows 7 Enterprise evaluation download, which has been available since September 1, can now be directly accessed for free from Microsoft; and is essentially the same all-features-packed OS that is available to the Volume Licensing customers in the enterprise.

The trial version - which is available in English, Spanish, French, German, and Japanese in both 32- and 64-bit versions - can be distinctly beneficial to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that now explore some new features available only in the Enterprise edition; and even those SMBs that lack any MSDN or TechNet subscriptions can avail the trial edition.

Elaborating on the key idea behind the free trail offer, Microsoft's senior community manager, Stephen Rose, said in a Windows blog post: "Many IT pros we talk to have been looking for a way to continue their work with the Release Candidate to test their applications, hardware and deployment strategies with final Windows 7."

However, the 90-day trial has some limitations like: activation within 10 days after installation; and purchase and re-installation of the Windows 7 enterprise for usage beyond the trial period!