CORP TALK: Microsoft has finally made available the Release Candidate (RC) of Windows 7 operating system in downloadable form to MSDN and TechNet subscribers yesterday. The public will have access to it by May 5 from the Microsoft Download Center. The RC download, interestingly set with an expiry date for June, 2010, indicates that the Windows 7 operating system is entering its final phases of development and will be ready for partners to develop new apps, device drivers and services.

According to Microsoft, Windows 7 has garnered strong industry support. The beta of Windows 7 showed significant promise but Forrester Research released an independent report in April 2009 recommending that IT professionals within the enterprise deploy Windows Vista first in order to prepare for a smoother transition into Windows 7.

According to an online report by The National Business Review, Windows 7 official launch date is still set on January 2010 but a separate report today indicates that Acer might release their notebooks with Windows 7 earlier in October 2009. The buzz on everyone’s lips seem to steer towards an October 23, 2009 launch date, if the early release of the RC download yesterday was any indication that Windows 7 is on track and done. (Editor opinions: 1) (more…)