With the next iteration of the Windows-based operating system getting closer and closer to reaching release to manufacturing status (Windows 7 RTM), Microsoft wants you to know precisely what new bits and pieces you can expect to get from the operating system – like what features have been enhanced, how the parental controls have been modified, and how Win7 uses multitouch technology. This latest bit of info does not come from the Redmond-based software giant, but I bet they can’t be too upset about it as it touts one interesting aspect of the Windows 7 OS.

According to Betanews, Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) boosts the speed of your web browser. The guys over that Betanews, on the same hardware configuration, compared the performances of several web browsers on Vista SP2 and Windows 7 RC; the results showed that on average, browsers running on Win7 RC were 11.9% faster than on Vista SP2. The only browser that did not show a speed increase was Apple’s Safari 4 Beta Build 528.17.

Here is the lowdown on the Windows 7 browser performance test:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 8: 15%
- Firefox 3.0.10: 11.6%
- Firefox 3.5 Beta 4: 12%
- Firefox Nightly Builds: 28-30%
- Google Chrome 2: 12%
- Google Chrome 3: 16%
- Opera 9.64: 2%
- Opera 10: 15%
- Safari 3.2.3: 18%
- Safari 4 Beta: -22%

This is good news for web browser developers in general as they will gain a 10% to 15% speed increase when Windows 7 is released onto the market by the end of the year. This is especially good news for Google, if you keep in mind that its stable Chrome 2.0 version boasts a 30% speed increase.

If you would like to get Windows 7 RC, download locations and activation keys are available here.
If you would like to get Windows Vista SP2, a download location is available here.
If you would like to get Mozilla Firefox 3.0.10, a download location is available here.