For the past few months, Microsoft has been elegantly reluctant to supply the consumer public with any information regarding a solid release date for the retail version of Windows 7. A large majority of the press has for sometime assumed a January 2010 release, signifying three years after the launch of Windows Vista. On the other hand, an Acer UK marketing director recently gave hints of an October 23rd release date.

Fortunately, Microsoft has finally responded to the world at large with a press release stating that “the next version of its client operating system, Windows 7, will be available to customers in time for the holiday shopping season.” A little over a week ago, we hinted that there would be an estimated twelve-week gap between Windows 7 RTM, releasing in early September, and the retail release, scheduled around the late-November holiday shopping season and Black Friday.

"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.

The company also intends to release the final version of Windows Server 2008 in the same timeframe as Windows 7. Meanwhile, the R2 Release Candidate has been made publicly available today and can be downloaded here.

Microsoft’s full press release can be found here.