Microsoft will debut its first public release of Windows 7 and said the first release candidate will be made available to the public on May 5, the company said.

The software company confirmed that Windows 7 RC will be released in early May, suggesting that the company is well on its way to release the final version by late summer.

“I’m pleased to share that the RC is on track for April 30th for download by MSDN and TechNet subscribers,” Brandon LeBlanc wrote on the Windows Team blog.

“Broader, public availability will begin on May 5th.”

The first Windows 7 beta was released during CES in January earlier this a year.

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