Windows 7 "ready by August"

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 12 May 2009 at 08:35

Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 7 will be released to manufacturing (RTM) in August, putting it on target for a potential October general release.

"Many are pushing us to release the product sooner rather than later, but our focus remains on a high quality release," says Windows 7's lead engineer Steven Sinofsky on the operating system's blog.

"If the feedback and telemetry on Windows 7 match our expectations then we will enter the final phases of the RTM process in about three months. If we are successful in that, then we are tracking PCs with Windows 7 available this Holiday season."

RTM is the stage at which the operating system is considered finished. The process then begins of pressing code to CDs and sending it out to OEMs for installation on new PCs.

If the XP release cycle is taken as a model, then we can expect Windows 7 to turn up on shelves sometime in October. Vista took an extra month post RTM, which would place a Windows 7 arrival in November.

However, Microsoft seems to be looking to wipe the taste of Vista from our mouths as soon as possible. There's also the recent statement from Acer's vice-president Massimo D'Angelo who claimed the company would have machines running Windows 7 on 23 October.

The revelation brings to an end Microsoft's long held assertion that Windows 7 wouldn't be seen until 2010, despite the success and stability of the beta.

Sinofsky did sound one note of caution, however, claiming the company would be willing to hold up the operating system should testing data from the Release Candidate not meet its expectations - though this sounds like marketing talk.

"Delivering the highest quality Windows 7 is the most important criteria for us at this point - quality in every dimension," he says. "The RTM process is designed to be deliberate and maintain the overall engineering integrity of the system."