Windows 7: Code is locked and loaded and ready to go

Microsoft's upcoming operating system, Windows 7, is soon to be released to hardware companies.

According to the software giant, the final version of code for the follow up to Vista will shortly go to PC manufacturers in order for them to test the OS and ready their hardware for Windows 7's full consumer launch on 22 October.

Windows 7 product manager, John Curran, told silicon.com: "The product's complete and we're delivering today the finished code to our PC manufacturing partners so they can begin the work of preparing to get it installed onto new PCs for the consumer launch."

The move is known as 'release to manufacture' (RTM) and is the last major hurdle an OS clears before becoming publicly available.

The RTM version of Windows 7 will only be available in English. However, more languages will be added in the following weeks with 35 languages scheduled to be available by 31 October, according to Curran.

Curran added Microsoft has learned from the Vista launch, making Windows 7 feature complete earlier on in the development cycle, at the OS' beta release in January.

"With Vista, we were not feature complete until RTM. One of the things that we've really been trying to do has been to create a very predictable development cycle," he said.

According to Curran, Windows 7 will be an improvement over Vista in areas including simplification of tasks, user interface, quicker boot and shutdown times and better battery life for devices running it.

Windows 7 was last week offered for pre-order at a discounted price leading to some Amazon sites to sell out and Microsoft's European online store to crash.