To the uninitiated, "Build 6801" looks like random numerology. To a developer, it is a time capsule. Compiled in late September 2008, this build was the first major public glimpse of Windows 7, handed out to PDC attendees. The "WinBeta" tag in the filename refers to the famous scene group that released this specific copy to the wider public, but more importantly, it represents the bridge between Microsoft’s labs and the enthusiast community.
Just two years prior, the world had met Windows Vista. It was beautiful, but it was heavy. It demanded hardware that didn't exist yet, nagged users with User Account Control (UAC), and ran slower than molasses on the netbooks that were suddenly flooding the market. The industry was begging for a savior. Microsoft.Windows.7.64Bit.Build.6801.DVD-WinBeta
The Ghost of the Beta: Why Windows 7 Build 6801 (WinBeta) Matters To the uninitiated, "Build 6801" looks like random