Great news! Today we´re announcing the release to manufacturing (RTM) of Windows Vista.

Yes, you read it right -- development of Windows Vista is complete.

Want proof? Watch this video and hear it from Jim Allchin himself.
http://soapbox.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=8475...f8-16f623fe9e3f

Ultimately, we never could have achieved this milestone without you, the enthusiast community, who have played a key role in making this the highest-quality, most secure, most reliable and most usable version of Windows the world has ever seen. You gave us unprecedented support in testing and providing your feedback while we designed, developed and refined Windows Vista -- so much so that it has in many ways become a reflection of your involvement.

Consequently, you should feel the same sense of accomplishment that we feel today.

And just what is this so-called RTM? It´s the major milestone where we can confidently say that Microsoft is done with Windows Vista and will be handing it off to our industry partners: PC makers, ISVs and IHVs. They in turn will continue to ramp-up in earnest now that the target is locked -- for example, by refining hardware drivers -- in order to complete the cycle and make Windows Vista available via retail channels on 30 January 2007. On that date Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system will be available to customers around the world.

But before we get there, we´ve got some really, REALLY great things to come, much of which will be disclosed or discussed on this blog -- so keep your eyes peeled!