Windows 7 release to manufacturing reportedly on track for July 13th

Get out your Bill Gates commemorative calendars folks, 'cause it looks like we now have a few more dates to mark off on the road to Windows 7 availability. While Microsoft still isn't saying anything official itself just yet, a number of different sources are reporting that the company has set July 10th as the date for the final gold build of Windows 7, while the big release to manufacturing date is apparently on track for July 13th. Of course, things could still change if there's a major bug or other problem encountered, but barring any disasters, that'll likely be the same build that finds its way onto your PC this fall.

[CraigJ @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:07PM]

Why dose Balmer continuously set himself up for goofy looking photo ops?

[Orbital @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:10PM]

Better than the creepy Apple photos, I mean, this guy I can actually laugh at. Apple I just kinda.. feel intimidated/creeped out.

No offense to any Apple fans. :U But a lot of Apple ads are extremely annoying.

[Erik @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:22PM]

@Orbital

LOL you act as if our very lifes depend on you saying good things about apple employees :P

[FNG @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:39PM]

He's the CEO of the world largest software maker and let's not forget, a billionaire. Do you think he cares?

[skyblaze @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:44PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMU0tzLwhbE&feature=fvw

must watch.

made my year :)

(not really, but....... yea)

[CraigJ @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:53PM]

As the CEO of the largest software company on the planet he should... You'd think with those billions he could hire someone to help him out in this area...

[Ellianth @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:57PM]

Why would he care what a bunch of nobodies on the internet think of him? I'm sure you guys care what he thinks of you...

[John Doe @ Jul 3rd 2009 5:01PM]

No matter what...I like Steve Ballmer's attitude. He has so much energy. Imagine Steve Jobs shouting 'Developers, Developers, Developers.....'. He just cannot. Imagine Jobs running around on the stage shouting 'I LOVE THIS COMPANY'. We never heard Jobs say that, right?

[Richard @ Jul 3rd 2009 5:07PM]

Oh God, now we've got CEO fanboys.

"Jobs is better than Balmer!!!"
"No, no, Balmer is better"

Children, please!

[iDavey @ Jul 3rd 2009 5:18PM]

Clearly Gates is even better =]

[sk8ordie @ Jul 3rd 2009 6:09PM]

he looks like a meany :(

[Look_Around_You @ Jul 3rd 2009 6:22PM]

"Why dose Balmer continuously set himself up for goofy looking photo ops?"

He doesn't. Engadget takes a frame from a video, usually mid-movement, and one that looks awkward, to use for these stories.

While on the other hand they make damn sure Steve Jobs always shown still, and god-like with out of focus Apple logo in the background.

[John Bailey @ Jul 3rd 2009 6:23PM]

Nobody can hold a candle to RMS..

Possibly because he has someone standing by with a fire extinguisher..

[Barney @ Jul 3rd 2009 7:17PM]

I love this company!
bleeerrrp

[AL @ Jul 3rd 2009 7:49PM]

I think Ballmer is paying homage to MJ - by doing the Thriller dance.

[CraigJ @ Jul 3rd 2009 9:55PM]

"Why would he care what a bunch of nobodies on the internet think of him? I'm sure you guys care what he thinks of you..."

I was thinking more of what the board, his senior staff, and the CEOs of other companies Microsoft deals with. I'm sure he doesn't give two shits about what we think - that's obvious from the last 3 versions of Internet Explorer...

I also noticed there aren't any chairs on the stage... Probably couldn't get chair insurance.

[loci @ Jul 3rd 2009 9:59PM]

lol, look at all the votes for:
"Major problems! I'm taking it back (or already have"

quite a lot of vindictive apple fangirls out there.
bit of pre-cum as they pressed vote i bet :)

[loosely_coupled @ Jul 4th 2009 1:49AM]

@John Doe
I don't really care about the CEO's presentation style or whether they shout about loving the company or not... Just take a look at their respective market performances since becoming CEO.

Since he became CEO (again), Steve Jobs has completely turned around a near-bankrupt company with massive growth in their computer line, totally changed the Music industry, created arguably the most popular consumer product in history (iPod), and is already making major strides into the mobile phone industry, including redefining the standard for high-end smartphones.

I don't think I need to talk about Balmer's accomplishments thus far..

[Mark Anderson II @ Jul 4th 2009 4:22AM]

That's right loosely, you don't. Because otherwise we'd have to talk about the restructure of MS's services department which quietly got rid of some of the people responsible for Vista's poor launch, the ever increasing presence in the console world, the increases in server business and WinMo's increase in market share against the iPhone, wouldn't we?

And that's just to begin with - MS are at one of the most exciting points in their history with W7, Zune HD, WinMo 7, Natal, Surface and other innovations coming out - yes, fanboys, businesses put MS at number four in the innovation rankings out of all the fortune 500 (Apple are number one incidentally) and have faith in Ballmer's vision.

So, no, no-one - at least no-one with any understanding of what MS are trying to achieve - really cares what you think.

[elbarto83 @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:11PM]

Why does it take 3 months to go from going gold to being available at the store?

[Juaquin @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:19PM]

Uh....cus they have to actually make the discs/manuals/packaging and ship them worldwide?

[shawnmos @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:19PM]

Blame the hardware manufactures for this. Vista hit RTM 2 months before it was released and there were still really poor driver support when it came out. The drivers that were out were buggy and not optimized. It's one of the main reasons why Vista got such a bad rap. It was a good 6 months later before decent drivers were available.

Windows 7 is based on Vista so most drivers designed for Vista should work with 7 with no problems, but it looks like Microsoft is not going to take any chances this time around, which is why they are giving them 3 months this time. It would be nice if they would release the OS early as download only and then come out in stores in Oct. It would keep the n00bs from causing problems,

[Mam00th @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:35PM]

It's so OEM can test for hardware, drivers incompatibilities etc.

[WindowsFTW @ Jul 3rd 2009 5:03PM]

Shawnmos you wrote: "It would be nice if they would release the OS early as download only and then come out in stores in Oct. It would keep the n00bs from causing problems".

Ummm, they did exactly just that.
The RC and the Beta before that have been available for free download now for a combined 7 months.

Anyone who wanted it or needed a copy of it, could have and should have had one by now.

The differences between the RC and the upcoming RTM are nominal at best if going by the very latest builds out there.

[Roman @ Jul 3rd 2009 7:54PM]

@Juaquin

That's why BitTorrent is a much more efficient distribution method.

[shawnmos @ Jul 3rd 2009 11:53PM]

@WindowsFTW: I am running the RC right now. I am talking about the RTM though. Media Center has a pretty bad bug which i am hoping got fixed in the RTM.

[Templarian @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:12PM]

I'm happy with the RC for a while. They can take their time and make it perfect.

(not that I can't find any bugs myself, but I'm sure they can find stuff do on it)

[Templarian @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:27PM]

can*

[Why should I have all the fun? @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:39PM]

RC is working good for me as well. AND I believe that it's good until May 2010 or something like that. AND I just heard you can migrate from RC using an external drive. All well and good.

[SLow rAM @ Jul 3rd 2009 11:32PM]

I hear that, but it will be nice when it's released so publishers will no longer be able to say we don't support it since it's in beta ..
I doubted I was going to be a fanboy of Win7 having ditched Vista, but I have to say Win 7 is a great OS.

[shawnmos @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:15PM]

Can't wait until it's leaked on the torrent sites! Wish Microsoft would sell it as soon as it it hits RTM. Even if only available for download.

[Shenanigans @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:24PM]

Not the brightest bulb, are ya?

What else do you want the whole world you like to do?

[shawnmos @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:26PM]

Was that english? I've already got it preordered.

[Mam00th @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:37PM]

MSDNAA is great for this, you can download the RTM as soon as it's released!

Also : "What else do you want the whole world you like to do?"....

... WTF?

[Makavre @ Jul 3rd 2009 5:00PM]

@Shenanigans

Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?

[dolapo10 @ Jul 3rd 2009 8:16PM]

GOOD LORD, please bless us with the brains to comprehend
what this guy is trying to say

[3lement @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:19PM]

Should be on Newsgroups shortly then...

[Erik @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:20PM]

So this means they release it early to businesses and stuff?

[Templarian @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:29PM]

Some business already upgraded to the RC.

[lxuke @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:21PM]

i have build 7264 i wonder what build the RTM will be

[graywolf790 @ Jul 4th 2009 10:05AM]

build 7100 is mine. 32-bit rc.

[Tony Montana @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:22PM]

The final code is being signed off on July 13th?

I thought the OS wasn't going to be available till October 22nd?

If the RTM hits next week it will probably be on torrent sites soon afterwards so it will be pirated months before it comes out officially unless I am missing something.

[nukee @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:27PM]

October 22 is the day you can buy it off store shelves. They send it to manufacturers earlier so they can get computers out around the same time with the OS preloaded.

[Greg @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:28PM]

You're not.

[Justin Holt @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:25PM]

What a great birthday present Microsoft. Being born on Friday the 13th wasn't so unlucky after all.

[Tucker @ Jul 6th 2009 3:45PM]

if you were born in 1990 we have the same birthday!
ok that' all.

[nukee @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:25PM]

Does anybody know if it hits MSDN/MSDNAA the same time it goes RTM?

[Mam00th @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:33PM]

Yep

[UK31337 @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:33PM]

I got Vista a month or two early through MSDNAA before Vista hit the shelves (and there weren't even any machines coming pre-loaded at that point) so quite possibly yes.

[nukee @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:53PM]

Good good. Can't wait to upgrade from Vista.