Windows 7 RC release date confirmed

In a blog posting on the firm’s official Window’s blog, Microsoft Windows 7 manager Brandon Le Blanc said that users who subscribe to Technet or Microsoft Download Network (MSDN) will be able to download the release candidate on Thursday, while other users will have to wait until May 5.

“There certainly has been a lot of discussion about Windows 7 in the last few weeks,” he wrote on the blog.

“A lot of folks want to know when they can get their hands on the official RC, when we are going to RTM, and what I had for breakfast.”

LeBlanc added that the Windows 7 team has been busy analysing feedback from beta testers, fixing bugs, and “working hard to improve the overall experience”.

“Many of your suggestions helped us refine the new and improved taskbar, the behavior of Aero Peek, Touch, Windows Media Player, and much more.”

Windows 7 is already garnering better press than its predecessor, Vista. The developer community also appears to be largely about the new operating system, however, a recent report predicted a slow market for enterprise adoption of the product.

The main reasons for IT departments delaying upgrading to Windows 7 are the current economic downturn and lingering doubts from Vista, according to the report, carried out by research firm Dimensional Research with the backing of IT management vendor KACE.