As many media outlets are reporting, Microsoft will be shipping the RTM to computer manufacturers in September 2009. My Microsoft insider source has confirmed this release schedule.

My source has also told me that Microsoft is planning Ocotober 27, 2009 as the day that Windows 7 will be available via retail outlets as a standalone package.  The date is pretty solid according to my source and Microsoft is hoping to get this thing out the door and on store shelves in retail boxes and installed on computers before the start of the holiday shopping season. 

Also, in the RTM, expect to see several new features added to Windows 7 that were not in previous builds.