Windows 7 Release Candidate arriving May 5 – Microsoft leaks date
The final stages before a new Windows operating system gets released seems to drag forever, and Windows 7 is no exception. Finally, there looks to be some light at the end of the tunnel as it has leaked that the Release Candidate will be hitting on May 5. Hopefully.
Wow, what is it with Microsoft and these accidentally-on-purpose slip-ups announcing release dates? At the end of March we found out that the Windows 7 Release Candidate would be published in May as a result of a premature post and now the release date has been narrowed down even further by a similar premature posting.
Another month, another overeager Microsoft employee reveals information probably not intended for public consumption. The release of the Windows 7 Release Candidate had already been marked down for May but the date has now got a little more precise.
According to a page on the Microsoft Partner Program Web site, and first noted by Ars Technica, the Windows 7 Release Candidate, the last to be tested and verified before the final version is released to manufacturing, will be released to the public on May 5. Microsoft’s partners will get it earlier via TechNet and MSDN. Microsoft Gold Partners who are part of the Technical Adoption Program (TAP) may already have access to the RC.
So, where does a May 5 Release Candidate release date leave the final product? My best guess would still be that the RTM (Released To Manufacturing) version will be lucky to arrive before Christmas 2009. The start of 2010 would seem a more likely schedule, although that would mean Microsoft missing out on important holiday sales from people eager to upgrade from Vista or to buy a new computer with Windows 7 installed on it.
In a way I’m actually glad Microsoft don’t seem to be rushing the release of Windows 7 in order to gain early sales. Windows 7 is very important for Microsoft as it has to erase the memory of Vista from the minds of a public getting sick of the company’s attitude towards them. I’d rather it got Windows 7 right rather than out early.
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April 20th, 2009
CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!
Will be getting this as soon as possible so I can upgrade from Build 7000!!!!
April 21st, 2009
Yeah that’s great we can erase the memory of WinXP from the minds of a public getting sick of the company’s attitude towards them.
…As The XP was ever worse than Vista when it was released but hey we must be quiet about it here.