OK folks – here are some details on RTM availability.  Availability depends on who you are.  The information below is from the Windows Team Blog:

Partners & OEM’s

• ISV and IHV partners will be able to download Windows 7 RTM from Microsoft Connect or MSDN on August 6th
• 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

Business Customers

• Volume License Customers with existing Software Assurance licenses will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English on August 7th via the Volume License Service Center.  The rest of the languages for Windows 7 RTM should be available a couple of weeks later
• Volume License Customers who do not have a Software Assurance license will be able to purchase Windows 7 through Volume Licensing on September 1st

IT Professionals

• IT Pros with TechNet Subscriptions will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English on August 6th, and remaining languages by October 1st
• For IT Pros at companies with Volume Licensing please review the Volume License info above

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

Consumers:  Windows 7 will be in retail stores and shipping on October 22nd as we mentioned in our earlier post.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Availability – Evaluation software for Windows Server 2008 R2 will be available in the first half of August.  The full product will be available to customers with Software Assurance in the second half of August.

For our IT Admins out there, here are some of the updated management tools in Windows Server 2008 R2 (taken from the Windows Server Blog:

• Hyper-V and Live Migration: R2's Hyper-V enables a complete server virtualization solution available out-of-the-box. Live Migration allows server administrators to migrate VMs between physical machines with no perceived downtime for current server connections and work streams. That means a more dynamic datacenter and more agility in meeting new business needs For more information on Hyper-V in R2, check out today's in-depth post on the Virtualization Team blog.
• File Classification Infrastructure: FCI lets you manage your data based on its characteristics, including things like file type, user credentials and even content. Based on this kind of criteria, FCI can assign data different access restrictions, store it in different locations or simply push it into an entirely customized lifecycle scheme - all done automatically via policy.
• Active Directory and Pervasive PowerShell: 240 new PowerShell cmdlets and several management consoles (including a new Active Directory interface) have been built on top of PowerShell. Active Directory has also been enhanced with the Active Directory Recycle Bin as well as AD Group Policy objects that give desktop administrators deeper capabilities when it comes to managing Windows 7 clients
• IIS 7.5: Updated Management Tools and application serving capabilities that now include support for PHP and .NET on Server Core installations
• Server Scalability: R2 is Microsoft's first 64-bit-only operating system.  R2 supports up to 256 logical processors in a single server as well as all the latest CPU technologies.  And, R2 has support for advanced storage technologies, including SAN management and solid state hardware

If you combine Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 in your environment, there are some really cool features that you can use:

• DirectAccess: Provides secure, always-on access to corporate networks regardless of what network a client might be connecting from
• BranchCache: Allows users in remote offices to cache corpnet data locally, providing a better work experience for remote workers and simultaneously lowering WAN bandwidth costs

OK Folks – that should be enough to whet your appetite.  Don’t forget that in October we’ll be running a Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008 R2 launch series similar to the one we did last February for Windows Server 2008.  Until next time …

Additional Resources:

• Windows Server 2008 R2 Resource Center
• TechNet Resource Center
• Application Compatibility

- CC Hameed