The announcement of Windows 8 RTM (release to manufacturing) by Microsoft brought smile to local supply chain, especially the PC makers, particularly Acer, Asus and Quanta are set to "jump start" on their production to ship their products, before the Windows 8 is set to release to consumer around the world in the second half of October. At the World Partner Conference 2012 held in Toronto, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer quoted saying "This will be our biggest year in terms of product and service launches in the history of our company, creating massive opportunities for our partners to grow their businesses."
The official announcement of Windows 8 was made by Microsoft CFO Tami Reller, which the "Release To Manufacturing" means that Microsoft' hardware partners will get their hands on the final version of the software, ready to load onto their new devices during the first week of August and should be available to the public in late October 2012. Microsoft's official website also published the detailed date of Windows 8 release, which is comparatively the same schedule as the release of Window 7 in 2009, in line with market expectation.
Industry analysts studied based on the experience before the release of Windows 8, the hardware manufacturers anticipate the consumer reaction by unfreezing the production schedule ahead to July and August, "jump start" as their production lines will reach its peak in the fourth quarter. Microsoft estimated for Windows 8 system to pre-loaded to new PC, from logistic to computer shops will take at least 2~3 months of time, which Windows 8 PCs will be ready on the second half of October in 231 worldwide markets in 109 languages. |