The final release date for Windows 7 has been a hot topic of discussion ever since the operating system was first announced. Reports have ranged from July 2009 to January 2010, with analysts saying anything past this holiday season would be a mistake on Microsoft's part, costing them truckloads of money. Thankfully for Microsoft, it appears this "comittment to quality" kick they're on will not have to be compromised in light of the official target window revealed at Tech•Ed North America 2009 -- Holiday 2009.

“With early RC testing and extensive partner feedback we’ve received, Windows 7 is tracking well for holiday availability," said Bill Veghte, senior vice president of the Windows Business at Microsoft.

Stated The Windows Blog's Brandon LeBlanc: "I want to underscore that our top priority remains QUALITY. This guidance does not alter that principle."

Good to know.

For details on the path from RC to General Availability (GA), check out the latest Engineering Windows 7 blog post.