Redmond-based software giant Microsoft will launch on the market its latest operating system for personal computers, Windows 7, on October 22, this is something that we are all aware of, yet it seems that some system builders say they will ship the platform on devices prior to that date. According to a recent article on TechFlash, October 13 is the lucky date for those eagerly awaiting for Windows 7 to become available on the market.

“I don't think I've ever been more prepared for an operating system launch than I have been with Windows 7,” Jon Bach, president of Auburn-based Puget Systems Inc., reportedly stated. According to him, Microsoft has announced small system builders that it will enable them to sell Windows 7 PCs the same day they will receive product keys, no later than October 13.

On the other hand, Microsoft says that system builders won't be ready to ship their products before the official general availability date of the platform. They will need the Windows 7 OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK), as well as other tools to pre-load the client on new computers, and this is something they do not have at the moment, ZDNet reports. However, said system builder points at October 13, though it seems that it won't get to ship the PCs before October 22.

“October 12 is the date that Microsoft enables our Authorized Replicators to begin shipping Windows 7 to Microsoft OEM Authorized Distributors. As the fulfillment process through our supply chain takes time, we begin initial product distribution in advance of General Availability. Therefore, this represents our Release To Manufacturing (RTM) process for OEMs who purchase indirectly through Distribution,” is what a Microsoft spokesperson stated, adding that, “while in theory a System Builder could get Windows 7 product pre-GA, based on supply chain analysis, the intended timing for customers to receive Windows 7 PCs from System Builders should be close to GA, October 22nd. This represents the same process Microsoft managed with past Windows releases.”

The idea is that system builders will get their Windows 7 final bits from Microsoft’s authorized distributors, which, in turn, should get the OEM software from Authorized Replicators. While large computer vendors around the world receive their Windows 7 bits from Microsoft directly, system builders have to get through a longer supply chain for that, which suggests that PCs pre-loaded with the OS might not arrive on the market prior to October 22 after all.