IBA

Microsoft has lately revised the Longhorn schedule. What hasn't changed is that Longhorn will be released to manufacturing in May 2006, according to senior Microsoft executives.

Here's the new schedule.

Longhorn Beta 1 code complete
March 16, 2005

Longhorn Beta 1 internal release and domain rollout
April 2005

Longhorn Beta 2 (and product) code complete
July 1, 2005

Longhorn Beta 2 internal release
Q3 2005

Longhorn Beta 2 public release
September 2005 (PDC 2005)

Longhorn Release Candidate 0 (RC0) internal release
Q4 2005

Longhorn Release Candidate 1 (RC1) internal release
March 2006

Longhorn release to manufacturing (RTM)
May 2006

Notice the inclusion of a RC0 build, which is unusual. The last time Microsoft shipped an RC0 build of a Windows product, I believe, was with Windows Millennium Edition (Me). RC0 releases are typically designed to give Microsoft's hardware and software partners enough time to develop drivers and compatible software in time for the final release of a product.

Microsoft briefly considered having only one beta release, but the company is now "firm" on two beta"