Acer right, Windows 7 launching on October 22

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Wednesday, 03 June 2009 06:54

Opinion and Analysis

Although no pricing has yet been revealed, Microsoft has confirmed it will launch Windows 7 on October 22, 2009, blowing away the “2010” launch nonsense Microsoft tried perpetuating, while also suggesting discounts to Vista users might be in the works!

Ina Fried from CNET US has spoken to Microsoft’s Senior VP, Bill Veghte, who confirmed that October 22 is the launch date for Microsoft’s shiny new Windows 7 OS.

Set to send Linux users into paroxysms of apoplexy over the evil empire spawning the final code of yet another evil OS, while making Microsoft’s OEM partners happy to finally be offering a new version of Windows that actually works properly out of the box, the October 22 launch date shows that Microsoft, when it gets it act together, can actually release something in a decent timeframe.

Fried’s article also had a few other interesting revelations. One was that the Win 7 code should “go gold” in July, specifically “by the middle or end of next month”, and that feedback on the RC code had been “very good”.

That said, it’s still worth reminding Microsoft that Windows 7 RC performance on netbooks I’ve tried is slow, slow, slow and slow.

Snails and turtles go faster than Win 7 RC on netbooks, which is incredibly disappointing given how much faster the beta code was on such diminutive devices. 

I’ve speculated that Microsoft will ensure Win 7 RTM (release to manufacturing) code will surprisingly be fast, fast, fast, even on netbooks, presumably so Microsoft can manufacture yet more good press on Win 7 when it arrives, but if true, it’s a sneaky way to do it.

Microsoft has also confirmed that it’s planning some kind of “free upgrade to Win 7” offer for those who purchase new computers with Vista Home Premium or higher, but no specific details were shared.

What about cheaper versions of Win 7 for existing Vista users? Please read on to page 2.