Win2k – RC2 delayed, ship date next year looks likelier

Evidence of Windows 2000's release date slipping into next year has strengthened with the news that Release Candidate 2 of the software, previously due this week, won't be out until September 15. Sources close to Microsoft, too, are starting to talk about the possibility of Release to Manufacture (RTM) slipping into January, which supports our recent suggestions that actual ship date could be February/March. Nate Mook of Betanews says that the release of RC3 to OEMs and top beta testers has now slipped back to October 27, with RTM by the first day of Comdex, November 15, being aimed at. Hitting this would still take the retail release into late January, but Microsoft will only be able to make that date if RC3 turns out to be pretty good - two and half weeks isn't much of a window if late nasties show up. There's clearly good news and bad news about the Comdex target. So long as Microsoft makes it, the company can start shouting on day one, and run this through to a huge publicity campaign in January. But if it misses, people at Vegas will point and laugh, and His Billness will be most unhappy. ® Related stories: Gates hints Win2k will slip to next year Dell suggests Win2k slips