Update: Microsoft Vista Goes Gold

Microsoft has released its Windows Vista operating system to manufacturing, the company has announced.

Mark Hachman - PC Magazine

Nov. 8 Microsoft has released its Windows Vista operating system to manufacturing, the company said Wednesday.

Jim Allchin, Microsoft's Windows chief, hosted a conference call with reporters at 11 AM PDT to announce the release.

"This is a good day," Allchin said. "Less than hour ago, we officially signed off on Windows Vista. It's rock-solid and ready to ship."

Read PC Magazine's walkthrough of Windows Vista Ultimate.

Windows Vista, already several years in the making, will be released in two phases: business editions will be released on Nov. 30, while consumers will have to wait for their versions until January 30. The release to manufacturing means that volume licensees will have access to the software at the end of the month, and that the baton will be passed to hardware manufacturers, to ensure that their own driver software will be written for the new operating system.

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