Microsoft expected to deliver Windows 7 public RC in May

#1 lee26 on 16 Mar 2009 - 01:11

Wow. Totally unexpected but at least it's not being rushed. I'm sure some of those internal RC1 builds will be leaked though.

#2 The Real Alex on 16 Mar 2009 - 01:16

Wow this is unexpected. But the next public release (RC) durning the week of my birthday. Ehh that is good enough for me for a present.

(1 reply) #3 +giggsey on 16 Mar 2009 - 01:26

Only a month between RC's, is there any point?

#3.1 Calum on 16 Mar 2009 - 02:50

A month is a lot to find showstopper bugs

(10 replies) #4 lee26 on 16 Mar 2009 - 01:27

Actually somethings just come to mind. How can they call the first Release Candidate just that when they know already they'll be a second? I mean you wouldn't say something like "I think this is almost good enough to release" if you know full well that is not and more work and testing needs to be done.

#4.1 Thecreativeone on 16 Mar 2009 - 01:29

lee26 said,

Actually somethings just come to mind. How can they call the first Release Candidate just that when they know already they'll be a second? I mean you wouldn't say something like "I think this is almost good enough to release" if you know full well that is not and more work and testing needs to be done.

You do know microsoft doesn't always announce their plans publicly right? 6 months can go by before they announce something

#4.2 Chaks on 16 Mar 2009 - 01:30

They followed the same with Vista SP2 - released and RC-escrow build initially to testers and released a public RC later, except that they didn't call it as two RC versions. That might happen for Windows 7 too.

#4.3 lee26 on 16 Mar 2009 - 01:31

Yes I know that but you wouldn't get someone to taste test a cake you think is good enough to sell if you know the ingredients aren't right. Obviously this is on a different scale to that but the same principle applies.

Last edited by lee26 on 16 Mar 2009 - 01:43

#4.4 pasty2k2 on 16 Mar 2009 - 01:37

Chaks said,

They followed the same with Vista SP2 - released and RC-escrow build initially to testers and released a public RC later, except that they didn't call it as two RC versions. That might happen for Windows 7 too.

I can see that happening... it would make sense. Like lee26 says, how can they know they will need to release two, normal, RCs? If they were planning on a second RC, they would relabel the first as a beta 2 surely.

#4.5 lee26 on 16 Mar 2009 - 01:40

Exactly pasty2k2. If they are to be called RC1 and RC2 then quite frankly that's just wrong and as you said RC1 should be Beta2 and RC2 should be RC1.

#4.6 Chaks on 16 Mar 2009 - 01:44

@lee26, Microsoft can take that path or they could completely ignore that and call it RC1 and RC2. We will sure let you know if there is any change

#4.7 Calum on 16 Mar 2009 - 02:53

lee26 said,

Yes I know that but you wouldn't get someone to taste test a cake you think is good enough to sell if you know the ingredients aren't right. Obviously this is on a different scale to that but the same principle applies.

I think the reason they aren't calling it a 'beta 2' is because they will think it is ready for release, but they just want to have feedback from the people they trust the most first and from their most valued testers for a month first.

The public release candidate could still be the first one if they don't find any bugs they want to fix/user interface issues to tweak, but I doubt that will happen

#4.8 burnblue on 16 Mar 2009 - 03:52

Both are actual release candidates, but the first is private and the second is public. The beta is just a test, with full knowledge that features may be tweaked, while the RC1 is assumed to be ready to go. Even so, having the developers test that assumption before letting the public test that assumption only makes sense.

The cake is a terrible example, because if you could taste test the cake without ruining it or subtracting from it you would. The RC can be 'taste-tested' without damage.

#4.9 Jugalator on 16 Mar 2009 - 08:39

I'm not sure I understand the complaint here.. The escrow build is an early version of the first and only announced RC. There aren't two announced RC's here.

The escrow build is just the first RC build in unfinished form, as while "escrow" means no further feature changes will be done, it can still mean bug fixes will be made.

#4.10 geoken on 16 Mar 2009 - 22:42

Do you know what candidate means?

If I was making a cake for a function and I made a candidate it would by definition mean I wasn't 100% sure about it and may likely change things.

If the possibility for introducing multiple candidates didn't exist then they wouldn't even call it a candidate, they would just release it.

#5 winlonghorn on 16 Mar 2009 - 01:49

While I would love to get the testing over with and have the final rtm installed on my machine, I would also rather that they get rid of as many bugs as possible. They definitely shouldn't rush it like they did with Vista. This was totally unexpected, but good move Microsoft. Quality is more important than pushing the product out the door rapidly.

(3 replies) #6 Caveman-ugh on 16 Mar 2009 - 01:55

Now considering that my name is "Caveman" will someone the heck tell me what the heck is going on here with TWO RC versions of windows 7 ??
And what is an "escrow" version of software ?

#6.1 Chaks on 16 Mar 2009 - 01:56

Read more here about escrow build here

#6.2 Caveman-ugh on 16 Mar 2009 - 02:20

Thanks for that Chaks ..... Now I know.

#6.3 Chaks on 16 Mar 2009 - 02:25

Caveman-ugh said,

Thanks for that Chaks ..... Now I know.

No worries

Updated the article too with info about escrow build

#7 Jughead on 16 Mar 2009 - 01:58

You all must be youngens no offense but I've beta tested microsofts OSes in the past and I don't remember what OS started the change but MS used to have rc1 and rc2 then rtm. This was the old formula I know windows 2000 had rc1 and rc2 and so did win 98 can't remember if xp did or not. I for one am glad they went back to the earlier approach as this always allowed for more bugs to be squished.

#8 pasty2k2 on 16 Mar 2009 - 02:00

That was before the head windows chap changed - W7 development is being commanded by the same guy that did Office over the past couple of years. I think its working wonders so far, but time will tell.

#9 TOOLaudiofan on 16 Mar 2009 - 02:01

The point of a release candidate is that it has been determined to be stable enough for possible rtm after all the smaller bugs get fixed. If microsoft floats several builds around the office, more than one build may have the same level of stability, the next logical step would be to release both to the masses, rc1 and rc2. They would only need to call rc1 a beta2 if the following rc is from the same build tree.

(3 replies) #10 DSLJay on 16 Mar 2009 - 02:43

If MS releases Windows 7 next year and misses the Holiday season, it might not be very good for them. Granted, I think not rushing to get the RTM build is a good thing.

#10.1 archer75 on 16 Mar 2009 - 03:08

DSLJay said,

If MS releases Windows 7 next year and misses the Holiday season, it might not be very good for them. Granted, I think not rushing to get the RTM build is a good thing.

Miss the holiday season? This thing will go RTM this summer!

#10.2 djlegion on 16 Mar 2009 - 03:22

Windows 7 for x-mas :heart:

#10.3 qwertz123 on 16 Mar 2009 - 18:26

archer75 said,

Miss the holiday season? This thing will go RTM this summer!

-Internal RC-escrow builds of Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 R2 will be delivered to select testers on the fourth week of April 2009
-Release candidate for Windows 7 & for Windows Server 2008 R2 will be released to the public during the last week of May 2009

hmm, reading comprehensions

anyway; i LOVE these xp win7 fanboys cuz even a fart can't get even more than retarded

and we'r talking about a fart in the wind...

(2 replies) #11 Caveman-ugh on 16 Mar 2009 - 03:11

A question if I could when is the American Summer ?

#11.1 rm20010 on 16 Mar 2009 - 03:36

If you're going by the summer solstice, summer begins June 21st.

#11.2 Caveman-ugh on 16 Mar 2009 - 05:27

I live in Australia not America ....our summer has just finished !

(3 replies) #12 Paulz0r on 16 Mar 2009 - 03:23

Fake. The E7 team has their roadmap set in stone, and I can confirm that.

#12.1 Calum on 16 Mar 2009 - 03:31

Really? I hope so!

#12.2 pasty2k2 on 16 Mar 2009 - 03:53

I hope so too, but I dont care when this is released to be honest. The current build 7057 is good enough for me to run on my main machines (I have all my important data on a Windows Home Server setup so no worries for me!).

I would rather MS take their time with this, which it seems they have done, to get it right. Whether its released in the summer or next summer, doesn't bother me.

#12.3 andrewbares on 16 Mar 2009 - 04:41

Hey, what security software do you use for Windows 7?

I use the McAfee beta software for it, which works pretty well.

(3 replies) #13 Disengage on 16 Mar 2009 - 03:30

Will RC1 and 2 be released to the public or will it all be internal?

#13.1 burnblue on 16 Mar 2009 - 03:54

"Release candidate 2 for Windows 7 & for Windows Server 2008 R2 will be released to the public during the last week of May 2009"

Someone didn't read the article at all

#13.2 pasty2k2 on 16 Mar 2009 - 03:54

Im guessing yes, based on prior RC releases by MS.

If it isnt though, it will most definitely be leaked.

#13.3 qwertz123 on 16 Mar 2009 - 18:34

burnblue said,

"Release candidate 2 for Windows 7 & for Windows Server 2008 R2 will be released to the public during the last week of May 2009"

Someone didn't read the article at all

its just maybe u didnt understand: rc escrow build=!rc1

(1 reply) #14 pasty2k2 on 16 Mar 2009 - 04:17

Since this article has changed slightly, it makes a lot more sense - didnt they do the whole escrow-RC build thing, followed by proper RC, for IE8?

#14.1 qwertz123 on 16 Mar 2009 - 18:36

pasty2k2 said,

Since this article has changed slightly, it makes a lot more sense - didnt they do the whole escrow-RC build thing, followed by proper RC, for IE8?

and vista sp2? just so too?

(1 reply) #15 scubamess on 16 Mar 2009 - 04:33

I'm hoping they will allow me to test (legally) the RC build.

#15.1 qwertz123 on 16 Mar 2009 - 18:36

scubamess said,

I'm hoping they will allow me to test (legally) the RC build.

your legally source: www.thepiratebay.com

#16 Soldiers33 on 16 Mar 2009 - 07:16

i was waiting until april, now got an extra month

(1 reply) #17 thealexweb on 16 Mar 2009 - 07:38

I saw this delay coming, there moving to fast. I would prefer a stable bug free end environment rather than a rushed product.

#17.1 SoLoR1 on 16 Mar 2009 - 08:16

thealexweb said,

I saw this delay coming, there moving to fast. I would prefer a stable bug free end environment rather than a rushed product.

until we get random build leaked every week or two, they can take as much time as they want

#18 kevpan815 on 16 Mar 2009 - 16:01

See, I told you guys that both 02/28/2009 and 04/10/2009 was way 2 early 4 RC1 2 be realeasd!

(1 reply) #19 kevpan815 on 16 Mar 2009 - 17:22

I also predict that my 3rd party source about RTM not being due out until 01/2010 is true as well!

#19.1 rm20010 on 16 Mar 2009 - 18:46

That would be the absolute last month for RTM, being exactly 3 years since Vista launched. If the RCs are this early, they can't afford to miss the Christmas shopping season.

(1 reply) #20 rm20010 on 16 Mar 2009 - 18:55

This isn't surprising at all, and they could be on track to RTM before fall.

Why is that? If people are comparing this release to XP, XP RC1 was released on July 2, 2001. RC2 was released on July 24th. RTM was August 24, 2001 followed by its public launch in NYC two months later.

The release schedule of this OS seems to draw a parallel to XP.

#20.1 dagamer34 on 27 Mar 2009 - 12:09

If anything, I think Microsoft would want to release Windows 7 BEFORE people buy new computers for school simply because it reduces a LOT of potential hassle one gets from upgrading an operating system.

#21 FoxieFoxie on 16 Mar 2009 - 22:56

Quick tip: when saying "Wzor", please link to the article, always good to give a "full" credit.

#22 kevpan815 on 17 Mar 2009 - 01:24

@rm20010, why would MSFT change the Time Bomb from 08/01/2009 in Build 7000 to 03/01/2010 in Build 7057? Just fyi.

#23 kevpan815 on 17 Mar 2009 - 01:31

The answer of course is that MSFT may choose 2 wait until the U.S.A. economy is better 2 release W7.

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