Microsoft has officially announced that their latest operating system, Windows 7, has been shipped to manufacturing.

This means, Windows 7 is done and closer than ever to hitting store shelves. In fact, Gizmodo reports that the finished product is so similar to the RC1 currently out that you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

Here’s to hoping Microsoft can return Windows to greatness with Windows 7 after the brand had been tarnished with bad Vista publicity.

Tags: Desktop PCs, Laptops, manufacturing, microsoft, netbooks, operating system, rc1, software, windows, Windows 7