14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has already shipped the final Build of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 to its OEM (original equipment manufacturer) partners as of last week. Next in line to get the Windows 7 SP1 RTM bits are subscribers of the Redmond company’s developer and IT professional communities.
As the software giant confirmed last week, Windows 7 SP1 RTM will become available for download to MSDN and TechNet subscribers on February 16th, 2011.
This means that tomorrow, when you sign into your MSDN or TechNet accounts you’ll be able to get your hands on some shiny new downloads.
Of course, Windows 7 SP1 RTM will be accompanied by Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 RTM, since the two operating systems are all but joined at the hip.
“Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 SP1 [was] Release[d] to Manufacturing (RTM) [on February 9, 2011],” revealed Michael Kleef, Senior Technical Product Manager with the Windows Server and Cloud division last week.
“On February 16, both will be available to current customers of the Windows Volume Licensing program, as well as subscribers to Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) and TechNet.
“On February 22, both will be available to all customers through Windows Update and will also come preinstalled on new servers ordered.”
End users will need to wait a bit longer, but the fact of the matter is that consumers running Windows 7 RTM don’t have all that much to be looking forward to.
SP1 brings nothing more than bug fixes, minor optimizations and security patches to Windows 7 RTM, but certainly no new features.
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 is the only upgrade out of the two to introduce new features, namely Dynamic Memory and RemoteFX, which “enable sophisticated desktop virtualization capabilities. These features build on the comprehensive virtualization functionality already included in the Windows Server operating system,” Kleef added.