MICROSOFT WILL release Windows 7 on October 22, the company has confirmed. The date will put Windows 7 on store shelves a  full three months earlier than originally planned, and it follows Microsoft’s recent announcement that the OS would ship “in time for the holidays“.

Plenty of things will still take place: between now and October. Here’s a breakdown of some key events to watch for in the months before the Windows 7 release.

Windows 7 Upgrade Option

Microsoft is expected to unveil an upgrade: program for Windows 7 that will likely let you get the operating system for free or with a discount if you’ve recently purchased a Vista-basd PC that meets certain conditions.

So what are those conditions? that’s not yet dear. Microsoft has confinued the program will be called “Windows Upgrade Option“.

Early speculation suggests that it may mirror the Vista Express Upgrade program, which provided free or discounted upgrades for users who had bought XP-based systems in the months leading up to Vista’s release.

That program didn’t exactly run smoothly, however: At the time, We expressed concern about hidden costs that were associated with the Vista upgrade, and many consumers complained of delays and other issues in getting their upgrade requests processed.

Windows 7 Release to Manufacturing

Another step in the Windows 7 release process will be the transition into the release-to-manufacturing (RTM) phase of development. That’s the final phase before the software becomes available to consumers, and -as its name suggests-is when Microsoft sends the Windows 7 code to PC manufacturers so that they can start prepMing new systems for the October 22 release.

Windows 7’s RTM phase is expected to begin in late July or early August.

Windows 7 Compatibility Center

Microsoft’s official Windows 7 Compatibility Center will launch in conjunction with the software itself, according to a Windows 7 FAQ posted on the Microsoft Web site. The Compatibility Center will help you make sure that your devices and applications will work with the new OS before you upgrade.

Vista’s Compaibility Center launched with a very different timeline: That service went online in July 2008, a full year and a half after Vista’s release. And ironically, the Vista Compatibility Center also seemed to have some compnibility issues of its own-the site was completely inaccessible to users during its first days online.

Microsoft is no doubt hoping Windows 7’s release and reception will be far less bumpy. If early coverage is any indication, that wish jusl may come true.

Don’t take our word for it, though-try Windows 7 out for yourself. The Windows 7 Release Candidate is still available for download at this writing. Microsoft has said that functionality and features will remain relatively unchanged from that version to the final release.