At 10am on Tuesday 22nd July AEST, Microsoft announced the RTM of both Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2.
Speculation that the highly-anticipated announcement was imminent came when Microsoft blogger Brendan LeBlanc announced details about when various Microsoft customers would gain access to the RTM code, without actually revealing when the official RTM would be. General availability remains unchanged from 22nd October, and here’s a quick summary of who is eligible to get their hands on the RTM builds before this time:
- OEMs will have access within two days of the RTM announcement, so by the end of this week
- ISV and IHV Partners can download from 6th August via Microsoft Connect or MSDN
- Gold/Certified Partners can download via the Microsoft Partner Network Portal from 16th August (remaining languages from 1st October)
- Action Pack Subscribers can download from 23rd August (remaining languages from 1st October)
- Volume License customers with Software Assurance can download from 7th August via the Volume License Service Center. VL customers without Software Assurance can purchase Windows 7 RTM from 1st September
- TechNet and MSDN subscribers can download via their subscription portals from 6th August (remaining languages from 1st October)
In the phone conference at which the RTM was announced Rich Reynolds, General Manager of the Windows Business Group at Microsoft, explained that the staggered approach, particularly for TechNet/MSDN/VL customers, was to ensure that the user experience was as good as possible. Microsoft is obviously keen to avoid the bottlenecks which hit customers and subscribers when Windows 7 Beta and RC were released. If those experiences are anything to go by, demand for the RTM code will be exceptionally high, but as RTM won’t be available for download by the general public, those extreme slowdowns shouldn’t recur.
Microsoft was committed to releasing Windows 7 within three years of Windows Vista, and they’ve managed this with a few months up their sleeve. Windows Vista went RTM on 8th November 2006, so Microsoft have done very well in succeeding to get both the RTM to both business customers as well as (all being well) the general public within their self-imposed three-year window.
The announcement is an important one for businesses, with both the client and server products being released together. Windows 7 has plenty to offer business customers, but in Microsoft’s tradition of “Better Together” which was so marked with Windows Vista SP1 and Server 2008, Windows 7 is definitely designed to function at its best in an environment supported by Windows Server 2008 R2. The beta and RC builds have closely followed each other throughout the development cycle, which has enabled IT pros to do some feature-complete lab testing. From Microsoft’s perspective, this should serve to alleviate some of the concerns with product familiarity which stalled the mass take-up of Windows Vista.
The one fly in the ointment with the RTM announcement is that Microsoft accidentally broke the news early via an MSDN Flash newsletter, effectively scuppering the embargo placed on journalists from all over the world who were invited to attend the conference call (including yours truly). Considering that Microsoft have done such an effective job at keeping a tight rein on the flow of information regarding Windows 7 throughout its development, it’s somewhat embarrassing to have let that one through right at the last minute and hopefully there are some red faces at Redmond. But, it’s a very minor hiccup in what has been an amazingly smooth run to RTM.
NOTE – this is a cross-post from ZDNet Australia.
