14 DAY TRIAL // A Windows 7 spin-off designed as the successor of Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs has been released to manufacturing.
Microsoft confirmed the RTM of Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) in an email sent to the early adopters that have tested the Beta and Release Candidate (RC) development milestones of the new operating system flavor.
A little over a month ago, the software giant was announcing the availability for testing of the RC Build of Windows Thin PC, while promising that the RTM Build would follow shortly, by the end of the second quarter of 2011.
The software giant managed to live up to its promise for WinTPC RTM, and it just made a new one, revealing that customers have less than a month to wait until Windows Thin PC reaches general availability.
“We appreciate your feedback and enthusiasm throughout the Windows Thin PC Community Technology Preview. Today, we are happy to announce that Windows Thin PC has been released to manufacturing (RTM), and will be available for our SA customers to download starting July 1, 2011,” the company said in the email sent to testers, according to myITforum.
“As a result, we will be effectively ending out CTP program effective today, June 6th, 2011. However, the RC build of Windows thin PC will still be available to download at the CTP site, along with associated documentation until the product launches to customers. Additionally, you may refer to our general Windows Thin PC website, to get the latest information on Windows Thin PC.
“Again, we thank you for all the feedback and evaluation provided in helping make the Windows Thin PC a success in the Windows community.”
According to the official description from the software giant, WinTPC is nothing more than the reduced footprint, locked down version of Windows 7. The platform is designed for customers that need a replacement for Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, but without the additional licensing hassles.
In this regard, Windows Thin PC will not be offered as a standalone commercial product. Instead, designed for Microsoft Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) scenarios, WinTPC will be made available to customers with Software Assurance or Windows VDA (Virtual Desktop Access) license agreements as an additional benefit.
“Windows Thin PC is an SA benefit. Customers with active SA coverage on their PCs will be able to install WinTPC on those devices. Customers without active SA coverage on their PCs can get SA by purchasing a Windows Virtual Desktop Access subscription, which includes SA benefits such as WinTPC. However, only devices with an existing Windows client OS (Professional / Business, Enterprise, Ultimate) qualify for WinTPC,” Microsoft explains.