IT professionals to get Windows 7 on 6 August

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 22 Jul 2009 at 07:53

Microsoft has announced that subscribers to its TechNet or MSDN services will get the final version of Windows 7 on 6 August.

The company has also confirmed the existence of the widely rumoured Family Pack, although has yet to provide any specific details on its price.

Although Microsoft has yet to officially confirm that Windows 7 has been released to manufacturing (RTM), the company has confirmed the dates at which various groups will get hold of the RTM version.

Developers and IT professionals with Microsoft Connect, MSDN and TechNet subscriptions will be the first to get the final version on 6 August.

Businesses with volume licence agreements will be given Windows 7 RTM just a day later.

Microsoft Partner Program Gold/Certified Members can download Windows 7 on 16 August, while Action Pack subscribers will be given the operating software a week later on 23 August.

Beta testers, meanwhile, have been rather left out in the cold. In previous years Microsoft has given away free copies of Windows to beta testers who have reported a certain number of bugs, but this time round the company says "beta testers will not automatically receive a free copy of Windows 7".

Instead, the company claims last week's discounted pre-order scheme "was done with our beta testers in mind", although the offer was open to anyone, not only beta testers.

In Microsoft's defence, the Windows 7 Release Candidate will continue to work until 1 June, although the bi-hourly shutdowns kick in at the beginning of March.

Family Pack

The worst kept secret of the entire launch process has also been confirmed, with Microsoft finally admitting there will be a Windows 7 Family Pack.

"We have heard a lot of feedback from beta testers and enthusiasts over the last three years that we need a better solution for homes with multiple PCs," Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc writes on the Official Windows Blog.

"I'm happy to confirm that we will indeed be offering a family pack of Windows 7 Home Premium (in select markets) which will allow installation on up to three PCs."

Microsoft hasn't confirmed details of pricing or availability of the Family Pack, although it will surely arrive alongside the full consumer release on 22 October.