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RTM on November 30, retail availability on January 30

It looks as though Microsoft is getting its ducks in a row when it comes to final countdown for Windows Vista and Office 2007. According to APC Magazine, Microsoft has earmarked November 30 as the RTM date for both Vista and Office 2007.

For retail customers, the expected launch date is January 30, 2007 for both software releases. This confirms the launch dates leaked by Amazon.com in late August. APC Magazine reports:

For Vista, this will include a build number of 6000, which also matches the 6.0 reference that denotes Microsoft considers this the sixth full version of their beloved OS. Both Windows 95 line and NT 4.0 were officially stamped as Windows version 4 (or variants, such as Windows 98 being 4.1); Windows 2000 was christened as version 5, and XP anointed as Windows version 5.1 (due to its being built on the NT/2000 codebase).

Pricing for Windows Vista will range from $199/$99 (full/upgrade) for Vista Home Basic to $399/$259 for Vista Ultimate. Prices for Office 2007 start at $149 for Office Home and Student 2007 and top out at $499/$329 (full/upgrade) for Office Professional 2007.

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Who's jumping on this on release day
By archcommus on 11/2/2006 1:36:41 AM , Rating: 2
Who here plans to buy this and install it immediately? Given the recent benchmarks from AT of decreased performance virtually across the board in all DX9 titles, I'm not sure if I'll be making the switch right away. Plus the price is kind of scary. However my university does give away free XP Pro/Office Pro 2003/Mac OS X/Office for Mac discs like candy, think they'll get Vista discs right away?




By braytonak on 11/2/2006 1:43:53 AM , Rating: 2
I would love to jump on it right on release day, but it's not worth the price to me. I'll just ask for it as a birthday present...in July. I've used RC2. It's nice, but my current system runs great. Nothing like fixing what isn't broken with unproven parts.

Besides, waiting gives me lots of time to read about the problems that other people are having and how they fixed them.


By Pirks on 11/2/2006 2:15:19 AM , Rating: 3
I'm thinking about getting whatever is leaked to torrents in November and buying a second SATA HDD just to try it out. If I don't like it I'll just kill it and use HDD for backup. There's non-zero probability I'll buy it ASAP in January, if it really runs my DVD recoding apps and games well enough. I tried RC1 at work and I love it so far, just have to test it with my app set and some games like UFO Aftershock and Call of Cthulhu, among others.


RE: Who's jumping on this on release day
By masteraleph on 11/2/2006 8:21:17 AM , Rating: 2
I'm holding back final judgments on DX9 titles, primarily because all of the graphics drivers out there are thoroughly unfinished (we're even talking basic Aero performance and dual monitor issues, and while there's no proof that there's any slowdown due to drivers...)

That said, I won't be picking it up immediately, for two reasons:

1) I'm planning on building a new computer in late summer- figure August or so. No plan to install a copy of Vista on a 4+ year old desktop (P4 2.53, 1GB RD800...you know, top in its day, but certainly not performance now).

2) I'm hoping that Ultimate upgrade (or at least Business upgrade) shows up on MS Student Select during the spring.


RE: Who's jumping on this on release day
By Aikouka on 11/2/2006 8:21:57 AM , Rating: 1
2) If I recall, there is no upgrade to Vista Ultimate.


RE: Who's jumping on this on release day
By masteraleph on 11/2/2006 10:31:01 AM , Rating: 2
There is one (retail $259). What there is not is an Ultimate upgrade program- i.e., one where you buy XP and get a coupon. DT had a poorly titled article regarding this issue, but there is certainly an upgrade version of Ultimate.


By Aikouka on 11/2/2006 12:21:22 PM , Rating: 2
Ahh, yeah that's right. Thanks for the fix! Now I feel bad as I've just been posting misinformation today... that'll teach me to post when I'm about ready to pass out from lack of sleep :/.


RE: Who's jumping on this on release day
By PlattTechnologies on 11/2/2006 10:07:44 AM , Rating: 2
I agree, i wont be buying right away. My university also has free copies of Microsofts OS and Office for students in technology related degree programs. I think i will wait until can get it through them. They will probably distribute Vista Ultimate because today they distribute XP Pro.


By thegrimreaper3 on 11/2/2006 10:33:56 AM , Rating: 2
My college has this as well (Penn State) for all tech related majors. So i will wait untill they put it up, which dont beleive will be too long after release.


No more major delays
By NoSoftwarePatents on 11/2/2006 1:31:19 AM , Rating: 3
The United States Coast Guard just finished formal beta testing with Windows Vista last week, so there won't be any sudden shipping delays for corporate customers.

Yes, the USCG is a huge, huge "Microsoft shop" for better or for worse.

I work as a Perot Systems Government Services contractor for the USCG, so that's how I know.




RE: No more major delays
By Pirks on 11/2/2006 2:10:50 AM , Rating: 2
How do you know USCG is the number one beta tester of Vista which can sort of drive RTM date? Maybe there are other larger organizations even more important to MS? You know anything about that? I'm very curious.


RE: No more major delays
By TomZ on 11/2/2006 9:21:57 AM , Rating: 2
I don't see where the OP made those statements. I think you read too much into his/her comments.


RE: No more major delays
By NoSoftwarePatents on 11/2/2006 12:10:42 PM , Rating: 2
The USCG isn't the "number one beta tester of Vista which can sort of drive RTM date", nor did I imply anything as such. With the release date just around the corner, Microsoft already sent us an e-mail thanking us for our beta testing last week, with our "software workstation image 6.0" concerning Vista. If there were any show stoppers halting the actual release date, we'd know by now.

The USCG is important to Microsoft, but only because we are one of many dedicated large customers.


Watch it get pushed back again
By Christopher1 on 11/2/06, Rating: 0
RE: Watch it get pushed back again
By Bonrock on 11/2/2006 12:53:24 AM , Rating: 2
I haven't heard of anyone else having that problem. Did you report it to Microsoft?


RE: Watch it get pushed back again
By TomZ on 11/2/2006 9:20:47 AM , Rating: 2
There was one "showstopper" that caused them to change the code after the RC, and they fixed that (reported here on DT). I don't know if that is the same issue you're describing or not.

And no, I don't think they will delay the schedule at this point. The software is complete now and they just have to push it into their manufacturing process.


98.9% of January rounds up to February.
By braytonak on 11/2/2006 1:40:19 AM , Rating: 2
The release date is so close to February that they may as well just say the date IS February. Fits with the usual psych game they place with prices... $159.99 = $160.00.

The date is also conveniently one week before "Patch Tuesday", which gives people a week to test it and for Microsoft to release the first round of patches.

I doubt the date will get pushed back, since it's been pushed back over the course of how many years?




By TomZ on 11/2/2006 9:23:20 AM , Rating: 2
I'm sure there will be updates available before it is released into the retail channel, since it is being released to PC OEMs and some business accounts at the end of this month.


I will wait
By montgom on 11/2/2006 9:19:28 AM , Rating: 2
I am in no hurry. It offers nothing for me that XP does not already do. The licensing agreement and cost of the new OS and hardware will keep me a lurker for awhile.




RE: I will wait
By rushfan2006 on 11/2/2006 9:44:16 AM , Rating: 2
Same here...I'm in no rush. My current pc is pretty well behind the times anyway, Athlon XP 3000+, 1 gig ram, GeForce 6800 GT...I think I'll concentrate my time and money on a new system build with twice the ram, at least a 7th gen gfx card (as I can wait for G80 as well -- plus the whole saving money thing) and I may for the first time in many years go back to an Intel platform as their c2d chips are just too sexy to ignore right now.

Not to mention -- by waiting I let other folks suffer the initial problems of the OS and I wait until MS builds up a lot of hotfixes and addresses a lot of the initial issues.



Clarity
By xFlankerx on 11/2/2006 12:40:52 AM , Rating: 2
Nice to see some things becoming clearer. Some of us can finally start tell others concrete details now.




yay
By Russell on 11/2/2006 12:46:24 AM , Rating: 2
I was hoping for earlier in Jan, though this isn't too bad. Based on RC2 I'd say they can make this date with little problem.




Once MS sends the order to PR
By Shark Tek on 11/2/2006 5:28:57 AM , Rating: 2
I would love to be in the packaging plant (Puerto Rico) once MS sends the order to produce the disks.