Windows 7 RTM Build 7600.16385 First Wave Already Shipping To OEMs
Microsoft announced the release to manufacturing of Windows 7 Build 7600.16385 three months ahead of the General Availability deadline, on July 22nd, 2009. But the Redmond company is in no way wasting any time getting the next iteration of the Windows client “out there.” In fact, the first wave of Windows 7 RTM releases is already shipping. Original equipment manufacturers are the first to get their hands on the gold build of Windows 7. OEMs will work to pre-install Windows 7 on new computers that will be made available to customers come GA on October 22nd, 2009, approximately a year after Microsoft provided the first Milestone 3 bits at PDC08.
Brandon LeBlanc, Windows communications manager on the Windows Client Communications Team, indicated one day before the official RTM that OEMs were scheduled to start “receiving Windows 7 RTM software images beginning approximately 2 days after we officially RTM.” There is little preparation that needs to go intro distributing the OEM images of Windows 7, and this is why original equipment manufacturers are first in line to get the gold bits of Windows Vista's successor. It's now two days after RTM.
