微软正式确认 Windows 7 RTM 的发布时间

OK！OK！OK！大家现在都不用再争执，再猜测，再到处求证 Windows 7 RTM 的发布时间了，微软 Windows 官方 Blog 已经发布了消息，确认了 Windows 7 RTM 发布的确切时间。下面是摘抄的原文：

I recognize this is an important question to have answered. Many of you have said you want to know exactly when you will be able to get your hands on RTM. Last Monday, I gave an update on RTM to close out some myths. In that update, I also gave a broad timeline on when different groups of people – or “audiences” – would get the final RTM code.

While I have nothing new to add regarding RTM today, I do however have more precise information to give on when you will be able to get RTM. Again, when you can get RTM depends on who you are.

ISV (Independent software vendor) and IHV (Independent hardware vendor) Partners will be able to download Windows 7 RTM from Microsoft Connect or MSDN on August 6th. There is already a lot of momentum from ISVs and IHVs in the ecosystem today for Windows 7 as Mike Nash blogged last week. If you are a partner who has been working on Windows 7 for a while, now is the time to complete your testing with final version of Windows 7. For partners that haven’t gotten started yet with Windows 7, now is the time to get involved. You can also visit www.readyset7.com to learn more about getting ready for Windows 7.

Microsoft Partner Program Gold/Certified Members will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English through the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) Portal on August 16th. By October 1st, the remaining languages will become available to download.

Microsoft Action Pack Subscribers will be about to download Windows 7 RTM in English starting August 23rd. By October 1st, the remaining languages will become available to download.

OEMs will receive Windows 7 RTM software images beginning approximately 2 days after we officially RTM, as a little time is required to release and distribute these images. This will allow them to begin preparing images for new PCs to ship with Windows 7 on them. We know our OEMs are excited for Windows 7 and we can’t wait to hand them the final RTM bits!

If you are a Volume License (VL) customer with an existing Software Assurance (SA) license you will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English starting August 7th via the Volume License Service Center (VLSC). The rest of the languages for Windows 7 RTM should be available within a couple of weeks after that.

Volume License customers without a SA license will be able to purchase Windows 7 through Volume Licensing on September 1st as we announced last week at WPC09. Mark these dates on your calendar and start making your deployment plans!

There are a few ways you can get Windows 7 RTM. IT Professionals with TechNet Subscriptions will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English on August 6th and remaining languages by October 1st.

IT Professionals at companies with Volume Licensing see above on how you can get Windows 7 RTM.

We have quite a bit of resources for IT Professionals to use to become experts on Windows 7 and to aid in their deployments. Those resources can be found at the Springboard Series.

Developers with MSDN Subscriptions will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English on August 6th and remaining languages by October 1st.

To help developers who are developing applications for Windows 7 or updating existing applications to take advantage of new Windows 7 features, check out the Windows 7 for Developers Blog. Also, be sure to check out the Windows 7 Developers Guide on MSDN. Oh and there are also some fantastic videos on Channel 9 too!

A special thank you to our beta testers is needed for their time and effort in helping make Windows 7 a solid release. The special pre-order offer we did offering Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional at almost 50% discount was done with our beta testers in mind. And many of you jumped at the chance to take advantage of this deal – thank you!

I know there have been some rumors going around about a “family pack” for Windows 7. We have heard a lot of feedback from beta testers and enthusiasts over the last 3 years that we need a better solution for homes with multiple PCs. I’m happy to confirm that we will indeed be offering a family pack of Windows 7 Home Premium (in select markets) which will allow installation on up to 3 PCs. As I’ve said before, stay tuned to our blog for more information on this and any other potential offers.

Beta testers will not automatically receive a free copy of Windows 7. Many beta testers are already subscribers to TechNet; those of you who fit that description will be able to download Windows 7 RTM shortly after RTM happens for free as part of your subscription.

However, if you don’t have TechNet and are waiting for GA (to either purchase Windows 7 or wait for your pre-order to arrive) you can continue to use the RC. In fact, you can continue to use it until it expires on June 1st, 2010 (expiration actually starts March 1, 2010, this is when the reboots start).

While our special pre-order offer with the near 50% has ended, Windows 7 can still be pre-ordered today from the various online retailers (including the Microsoft Store).

We are also going to release an evaluation of Windows 7 Professional for IT Professionals via the Springboard Series shortly after RTM. Over 40% of beta testers are IT Professionals and this will allow them to quickly access the RTM code and plan for deployments.

Windows 7 will be in retail stores and shipping on new PCs starting October 22nd. If you pre-ordered Windows 7, it should be delivered sometime around the October 22nd timeframe (depends on the retailer).

        下面是引用网上的中文信息：

1、微软合作伙伴和OEM厂商：

微软ISV（独立软件供应商）和IHV（独立硬件供应商）合作伙伴自8月6日起可以从Microsoft Connect或MSDN网站上下载Windows 7 RTM版本。

微软合作伙伴项目黄金/认证会员（Microsoft Partner Program Gold/Certified Members）自8月16日起可以通过Microsoft Partn Network（MPN）入口下载Windows 7 RTM的英文版本，其他语言版本要等到10月1日。

微软Action Pack订阅用户自8月23日起可以下载Windows 7 RTM英文版本，其他语言版本要等到10月1日。

OEM厂商将在微软正式宣布RTM的约两天后获得Windows 7 RTM软件镜像，因为向厂商们发送镜像需要一点时间。

2、企业用户：

如果你是拥有SA（Software Assurance）授权的VL（批量授权）客户，那么从8月7日起就可以通过Volume License Service Center（VLSC）下载Windows 7 RTM英文版，其他语言版本将在几周后提供。

没有获得SA授权的VL客户自9月1日起可以通过Volume Licensing购买Windows 7。

3、IT专业人士：

订阅TechNet的IT专业人士自8月6日起就可以下载英文版Windows RTM，其他语言版本要到10月1日。

4、开发人员：

订阅MSDN的开发人员8月6日起就可以下载英文版Windows RTM，其他语言版本要到10月1日。

5、普通消费者：

Windows 7普通消费者自10月22日起可以到零售商店购买Windows 7或是购买预装Windows 7的PC机，如果你预定了Windows 7，那么根据零售商的计划你可以在10月22日之前一段时间获得Windows 7。

        也就是说最快也要等到 8月6日才能拿到 Windows 7 的 RTM！拭目以待，这段时间将继续无视那些所谓 RTM 的泄漏版，继续使用 Windows 7 RC Build 7100 ZH-CN。