Russian Microsoft Reveals Windows 7 Release Candidate Likely for May

If you're thinking about buying a new computer or netbook in the near future you might want to hold off for another couple of months. Windows 7 hasn't been available for public beta testing for a while now, but news on the arrival of a Windows 7 Release Candidate has been sparse. Due to a slip up on the ru-net (Russian Internet--home to more than its share of slip ups), it is clear that Microsoft is giving us Windows 7 soon, very soon.

How soon? Well according to the Russian Microsoft Technet site that was accidentally put live before schedule (I pity the programmer who pushed 'enter' on that one), we can expect a Windows 7 Release Candidate in May of this year. Yes, that is correct--in May, 2009.

You can see a screenshot of the accidentally published Windows 7 Release Candidate page at Neowin. You'll notice that the original ru-net page has mysteriously reverted back to a Windows 7 Beta download portal. I'm sure the poor chap that pushed the button is being reprimanded accordingly.
If everything goes smoothly, which judging by the Windows 7 Beta, we have no reason to think it won't, your next PC or netbook will probably ship with Windows 7.

If you still haven't had a chance to see Windows 7 in action, be sure to read our review of the beta. You'll find more on Windows 7 on our tech news blog too:

12 Improvements to the Next Windows 7 Release Candidate

Windows 7 Release Candidate Improvements

Microsoft to Offer ‘Several’ Netbook Versions of Windows 7

Windows 7 Includes Option to Disable Features You Don’t Use … IE8 Perhaps?

Gamers of the World Rejoice! Windows 7 Frame Rates Good on DX10 Games