14 DAY TRIAL // Following the official release to manufacturing deadline of Windows 7 on July 22nd, 2009, Microsoft has started offering the gold bits to OEMs. Once it will be done supplying Windows 7 RTM Build 6.1.7600.16385 to original equipment manufacturers, Microsoft plans to offer the operating system to IT Professionals via TechNet and to its developer community through MSDN. As announced one day before RTM, both MSDN and TechNet subscribers will be getting Windows 7 RTM starting on August 6th, 2009. When it made public the initial timetable, Microsoft failed to mention any additional details for its plans past August 6th.
The initial MSDN launch will involve the English version of Windows Vista's successor. But at the same time, besides the English client bits, customers will get additional downloads. Developers will be able to download and start using the Windows Software Development Kit for Windows 7 RTM. The SDK will be accompanied by additional development solutions, including the Windows Driver Development Kit (DDK) and the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK). Also on August 6th, Microsoft plans to offer MSDN subscribers a few language packs for Windows 7 RTM.
In just a week after August 6th, two at the most, MSDN subscribers will be offered access to more localized versions of Windows 7 RTM. The next wave of downloads will include the French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese client bits of Windows 7. Concomitantly with the localized flavors of the client, devs will be able to grab Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese.
There will be a third and final wave of Windows 7 RTM releases via MSDN. Microsoft is not providing a specific download date, but said that subscribers should expect the bits to follow the second wave by several weeks. The final wave of MSDN Windows 7 RTM downloads will feature all remaining supported languages of the platform. “Languages will be added to the site as they are released to the team, so over time,” revealed a member of the Official MSDN Subscriptions team.
The Redmond company offered no details related to the Windows 7 release roadmap for TechNet subscribers. However, given the intimate connection between TechNet and MSDN, it is very likely that Microsoft will release Windows 7 RTM to IT professionals at the same pace as to developers.