Windows 7 is ready to roll as code gets RTM sign-off

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David Flynn23 July 2009, 10:53 AM

Microsoft overnight blessed the latest build of Windows 7 for ‘release to manufacture’, reaching a milestone in its efforts to push the memory of Vista far behind.


Yesterday we outlined Microsoft’s timetable for distributing the finalised ‘gold code edition of Windows 7 and observed that the OS was therefore due to reach RTM status sometime within the next two weeks.

As it turns out, Microsoft hit that milestone overnight. CEO Steve Ballmer announced at the company’s staff-only Microsoft Global Exchange sales conference in Atlanta, Georgia that Windows 7 was, at last, ready to roll. Windows exec Steven Sinofsky decreed that the fresh-baked release candidate 7600.16385 was “signed off … and declared as RTM”.

It’s been a long journey since the first external release of Windows 7’s Milestone 1 build 6519 in January 2008, but nowhere near the arduous five year trek of Vista.

Nor has the road been anywhere near as rough. With exceptional focus and under Steven Sinofky’s exceptional stewardship, the next-gen Windows has enjoyed widespread praise with almost no stumbles.

So what happens now? A set of DVDs containing the 32-bit and 64-vit RTM builds of Windows 7, along with scads of supplementary tools and gumpf, is being distributed to the PC builders of the world.

Most will receive their prized FedEx parcel by Friday, US time, so that they can begin the process of turning the raw code into their own bespoke versions of the OS with branding, customised help screens, vendor-specific software and assorted crapware.

The next official date of note in the Windows 7 distribution calendar is August 6th, when the code will be posted for download on Microsoft’s members-only MSDN, TechNet and Microsoft Connect online services. Unless it lands on the BitTorrent networks sometime in the coming fortnight (and we’re taking bets that it will).


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The PikeMaster (User):

Well they can only expect people running vista to get it off a torrent after the disappointment people got when they purchased vista or got it on a new computer. I have access to a corporate licence at work so i'll use that. Especially after how crap vista home premium was on my laptop to the point i went back to xp pro.

23 July 2009, 11:19 AM (8 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Ken Johnson (User):

I hope will get Vista on their computers, from a IT standpoint Vista is a pain in the ass. Windows looks good so far. Vista was the same though. We will have to wait and see

23 July 2009, 11:37 AM (8 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

todd_h86 (Cornerstone member):

7 wont have the impelmentation hurdles Vista had because most hardware and software has been upgraded to work with Vista so 7 should just slip right in and work perfectly. I have been running the RC1 on my domain since it was released and I have had next to no complaints (except for how do I use this new bar thing down the bottom.... get ready for that one!) and everything like exchange, sql and other apps are working fine.
But thats just my experience so hopefully it should be the same in the majority of places!

23 July 2009, 12:49 PM (8 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting todd_h86:
how do I use this new bar thing down the bottom.... get ready for that one!


That's easy... You set a default profile with it set back to the more sane labels and small icons plan we're all used to...
Seriously, the new thing is lame. How the hell do you tell the difference between 3 or 4 windows of the same program without checking the popups?

23 July 2009, 12:54 PM (8 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Michael J (Cornerstone member):

Quoting Tin:
How the hell do you tell the difference between 3 or 4 windows of the same program without checking the popups?


I have the exact same problem. it takes longer to find out which window is the one you want now.

23 July 2009, 1:31 PM (8 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Phil1 (User):

My thoughts exactly, you now need two clicks instead of one to get to what you want (or hover over the icon, then click on the one you want). Everyone keeps praising the new bar, but it's only caused more time wasting and frustration on my end.

23 July 2009, 4:22 PM (8 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

McBanjo (User):

What? You don't like the function that Windows stole from Apple? Too bad! You copy, you get the bad stuff too. It's actually better for the newbie computer user, since they can intuitively understand more about how their computer works. A new window doesn't mean a new computer process. That's the reason Apple did it in the first place. The difference is that Apple implemented it properly with Expose, so you don't give up efficiency.

23 July 2009, 9:16 PM (8 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting McBanjo:
What? You don't like the function that Windows stole from Apple?

No! And stolen or not it's still poor functionality.

Quoting McBanjo:
It's actually better for the newbie computer user

And for brain dead zombie clickers, but why should the rest of the planet be expected to suffer function for the sake of lowest common denominators? If ever you tire of being an evangelist for apple there is a job for you in traffic regulation.


Quoting McBanjo:
The difference is that Apple implemented it properly

as in implemented properly for zombie clickers, the chronically bewildered and newbie computer users right?


23 July 2009, 10:44 PM (8 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting McBanjo:
A new window doesn't mean a new computer process.

And the icons present there all the time aren't running... How does that work with a new user? Windows or Mac, they're both poor interfaces.

Quoting McBanjo:
That's the reason Apple did it in the first place.

Programs on Macs don't operate like on Windows. If you close a window on a Mac, typically it leaves the program running but basically invisible. On Windows (excluding PocketPC) and Linux, the program typically closes when the last window is closed.

25 July 2009, 11:27 PM (7 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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