Microsoft has been releasing monthly updates to OEM's on their upcoming Windows 7 operating system.
Techarp has posted their latest update where Microsoft notes that they are currently finishing product research based on feedback from OEM and end users. This will help them determine potential Windows 7 offerings / SKUs. Microsoft aims to provide detailed Windows 7 SKU information sometime this month. The next OEM update is scheduled to be released around November 13, 2008.
Interestingly, Microsoft has revealed the "Windows 7 Language Waves". Localised versions of Windows 7 will be released over 101 days after RTM. These are not general release dates but dates that indicate when the various languages will be finalised.
Wave 0 - RTM - English, Spanish, Japanese, German, French
Wave 1 - RTM + 14 days - Italian, Dutch, Russian, Simplified Chinese
Wave 2 - RTM + 28 days - Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Turkish, Korean
Wave 3 - RTM + 45 days - Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong), Czech, Portuguese, Hungarian
Wave 4 - RTM + 59 days - Danish, Norwegian (Bokmål), Finnish
Wave 5 - RTM + 73 days - Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, Ukrainian
Wave 6 - RTM + 87 days - Thai, Romanian, Lithuanian, Slovak, Bulgarian
Wave 7 - RTM + 101 days - Estonian, Croatian, Serbian Latin, Latvian, Slovenian
In the OEM update Microsoft also detailed Windows Anytime Upgrade (WAU). Like Vista, Windows 7 users will be able to upgrade to a "more premium" version to unlock additional features. More details will be forthcoming in Novembers update presumably when Microsoft release SKU information.
Microsoft is also planning a Windows 7 Tech Guarantee Program, where end users you purchase Vista systems will have the option (for a limited time) of upgrading to Windows 7.
Eligible Editions : Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Ultimate
Eligible Languages : Wave 0 to Wave 4
Available Upgrade Paths : Like-to-like product paths only (e.g. from Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium)
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