I've received word from sources close to Microsoft that the company is, indeed, still targeting Fall Comdex as the RTM (release to manufacturing) date for Windows 2000. Contrary to previously published reports, Microsoft will issue Windows 2000 Release Candidate 3 (RC3) on Wednesday, October 27, 1999 and then release the product to manufacturing on Monday, November 15, 1999, the first day of Comdex.
Microsoft notified its Rapid Deployment Partners (RDP) and Joint Deployment Partners (JDP) of the release plan just this week and is asking its various partners--RDP, JDP, OEM, and otherwise--to notify the company of any "show-stopper" bugs that could delay the release.
Windows 2000 RC3 will be given to close Microsoft partners and technical beta testers only; CPP customers will not get RC3
