Microsoft has just revealed that the official release date for Windows 7 will be the 22nd October 2009 and not early in 2010 as we were all led to believe.
Brandon LeBlanc, the communications manager for Windows wrote on the company blog that the final code for Windows 7 would be ready and available for manufacturers from next month.
“Release to manufacturing [RTM] is an important milestone,” wrote LeBlanc.“ We anticipate making the RTM code for Windows 7 available to our partners sometime in the second half of July. We also expect to be able to make RTM code for Windows Server 2008 R2 available to our partners in this time frame as well.”
Wow! Why the sudden rush to get it out? And make no mistake, it is a rush. There is not yet a fully functioning Windows 7 compatibility site and no fine print regarding the financial details or upgrade options regarding windows 7.
Well it doesn’t take much to work out that the early release date means that Windows 7, the welcome successor to Windows Vista, will be out just before Google’s Android appears on Netbooks and of course just in time for all the Christmas spending, traditionally a lucrative time for technology companies.
Acer have recently revealed that they are releasing the first Android based Netbook at the end of October so as Microsoft is making Windows 7 available at retailers by October 22nd it is a distinct possibility that this is a strategic move designed to steal some of Acer’s thunder, but I doubt if it will. Android on Netbooks is big news no matter what else is going on.
Regardless though, the hype around Windows 7 is real enough and the new operating system is eagerly anticipated by many, particularly those who have been so disillusioned with Windows Vista. But what does it mean for those who want to buy a computer before then?
Apparently anyone buying Windows Vista between now and October 22nd will be able to upgrade to Windows 7 through what Microsoft are calling “the windows 7 upgrade option programme’, possibly for free or maybe at a discounted rate, unfortunately though Microsoft haven’t yet confirmed the full details.
It will certainly be interesting to see if Android will make a dent in Windows dominance over the Netbook market.
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