The Windows 7-October Story

The report, posted Thursday at , cites a U.K.-based Acer representative as saying Windows 7 will ship with the company's upcoming starting on October 23. The Z5600 will actually become available in late September, the spokesperson is quoted as saying. Customers who purchase it during that first month will be offered a free Windows 7 upgrade after the release, he says.

An October launch would be a significant bump up from the Microsoft's been claiming. Some evidence does suggest it could be possible: in which Microsoft execs have let "oh-nine" slip from their lips; what appeared to be a that hinted at a late 2009 date; and a publication last fall 2009 as a probable launch time. (The publication did only cite "unnamed sources" at Microsoft who supposedly agreed with a blogger's best guess, though, so don't put too much stock in it.)

An U.S. Acer spokesperson was not immediately available to comment on the reports.

Release Candidate Connection