Windows 7 Launching October 23, Says Acer

Just as the Release Candidate of Windows 7 hits testers today, a couple of Acer executives have let slip some suspicious details regarding the release date of Windows 7 final.

At what appears to have been some sort of Acer press event for its all-in-one computer, vice-president for Europe, Massimo D'Angelo, was telling ZDNet UK that it would be in-store at "the back end of September, using Windows 7 technology."

When D’Angelo was asked whether the all-in-one’s release would be alongside Windows 7, he changed his answer to a sale date of 23rd of October "and not a day before."

While ZDNet UK’s account of the story left us slightly confused, another report from Pocket-lint quoting a separate Acer executive had the same date pegged.

"23rd October is the date the Windows 7 will be available. There is a 30 day upgrade time so that customers don't wait to buy a new computer, so if you buy during that 30 day period, you'll get a free upgrade to Windows 7," Bobby Watkins, Acer's UK MD told Pocket-lint.

Putting Pocket-lint’s and ZDNet UK’s stories together paints a slightly clearer picture. Pocket-lint reports that all-in-one Z5600 will be ship to stores at the end of September for people to "touch and feel," which would make D’Angelo’s comments make sense.

Even if the Z5600 were shipping late September for sale, customers who purchase it then with Windows Vista would qualify for the free upgrade to Windows 7.

Of course, this is all speculation until Microsoft goes on record with a hard release date.