Windows 7: Windows 7 SP1 RTM by the End of 2010

Microsoft confirmed recently that the first major upgrade for Windows 7 will be wrapped up and served to users by March 31st, 2011.

However, Rich Reynolds, general manager of Windows Commercial Product Marketing at Microsoft did not specify when exactly will Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) be released to manufacturing, which is the milestone when it will also ship to select users close to the company, such as MSDN and TechNet subscribers.

Speculation from various sources indicates that Microsoft might in fact be planning to release Windows 7 SP1 to manufacturing by the end of 2010.

This detail has not been confirmed officially by the software giant, and needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

Still, it would make sense for the Redmond company to sign-off Windows 7 SP1 by the end of 2010. Early events next year, such as the International Consumer Electronics Show 2011 would offer a great opportunity for Microsoft to announce the RTM of Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.

Thanks, Yowan. That would explain the jump from the beta SP1 to the RC version so soon. The RTM can't be too far behind.

What I find odd, however, is, in my installed updates it shows the RC SP1:

Attachment 111492

But, when I click on the "More information:" link, it takes me to the Beta information:

Attachment 111493