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By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

On Wednesday, Microsoft announced that Windows 7 has reached the “Release to Manufacturing” (RTM) stage, which means it’s done, folks. Now all that’s left is the wait.

The build is still 7600, but the full build string differs from the previously leaked build which people thought was RTM. 7600.16384 was what was leaked, but 7600.16385 is the final build number.

As I wrote earlier, there’s a definite timeline to who can get it when, but for those of us peons, it’ll take until Oct. 22nd.

There will be several versions of Windows 7, and a Family Pack (Home Premium version only). Microsoft has not year announced pricing for the Family Pack, but non-promotional pricing for the rest of the versions? Here you go:

  • Windows 7 Home Premium (Upgrade): $119.99
  • Windows 7 Professional (Upgrade): $199.99
  • Windows 7 Ultimate (Upgrade): $219.99
  • Windows 7 Home Premium (Full): $199.99
  • Windows 7 Professional (Full): $299.99
  • Windows 7 Ultimate (Full): $319.99

Lest you think we have forgotten, Windows Server 2008 R2 has also gone RTM.

Check out their self-congratulatory video: