Microsoft says it has not yet finished work on Windows 7 and contrary to rumors on the Internet, the final version of the OS code was not released to manufacturers this week. Microsoft wants to take the time it needs to clear as many last-minute problems as possible before it makes the OS available for manufacturers. Microsoft does not want to repeat the Windows Vista disasters, including incompatible or missing drivers, instability in the core operating system and other issues that ensured that Microsoft Vista was never widely adopted.

RTM Release Expected Within Weeks

The company has said that it will announce the release of the OS to the manufacturers when it happens, and it expects to do that within the next few weeks. The company has already said that it will release the OS to the general public on October 22. The company has concluded the Windows 7 pre-sale and has also said that it will delay reporting that revenue until the fourth quarter.

Driver problems, which plagued Windows Vista from the beginning, are receiving special attention from Microsoft. The company announced last month that vendors that expect to keep their Vista-Certified label will need to certify that their drivers also work with Windows 7. Manufacturers whose drivers are found lacking will have until the official release date of Windows 7 to correct their driver problems.

Users cited the lack of drivers as a major reason for not adopting Vista. Windows 7 is built on the Vista platform, but early evaluations show that Windows 7 is faster and more stable than Windows Vista or Windows XP.

The company has placed a sunset date on the purchase of downgrade rights to Windows XP and will encourage users to move to Windows Vista or Windows 7 rather than remaining with or downgrading to Windows XP. Many corporate users won’t be seeing Windows 7 right away. The majority of corporate licensees say they’re in no hurry to adopt the new platform. While the cost of upgrading is not substantial, most corporate users don’t see an incremental benefit to moving to the new operating system.

Windows 7 will come in three flavors: Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate. As with Vista, Microsoft expects home users to drive Windows 7 adoption initially, but the company hopes to woo its corporate/enterprise users within 18 months of the OS’s release.
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