Windows Insiders will be first to receive Windows 10 RTM

OK, so technically OEMs and retail partners will get the RTM code first but on GA day Insiders will get their hands on RTM before anyone else when it goes public.

Consider it a reward for participating as one of the over 5 million Windows Insiders testing Windows 10.

Today Terry Myerson, the head of Microsoft's new Windows and Devices Group, laid out the plans for getting the final version of Windows 10 into the hands of users around the world.

The first group of individuals to be prompted for the final code will be members of the Insiders program and it will allow Microsoft to manage the initial impact that upgrade process will have on their systems. Plus, Insiders have been installing new builds of Windows 10 for months now and pretty much understand the experience and therefore should be fairly low maintenance.

Myerson also gives a nod towards Windows as a Service and the confidence they have in Windows 10 being ready:

For the first time, we will deliver Windows as a service, with the commitment to offer ongoing innovations and security updates to you. In this world, Windows 10 is continuously improved and keeps getting better and better – for our consumer and business customers. We’re incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made and believe we are nearly ready to ship Windows 10 broadly to the world.

In our testing of millions of systems, we’re seeing full compatibility today with the vast majority of Windows 8x and Windows 7x systems– and we are not yet done, we will never be done – we will be continuing this application and device compatibility work every day as part of our ongoing commitment to Windows as a service.

After my experience earlier this week in upgrading to Windows 10 Build 10158 I know myself and many others really do hope that last statement is on the mark. Upgrades during the Insider program have been hit and miss on several occasions.

Once Insiders have been pushed the upgrade via Windows Update those who have reserved Windows 10 will then begin to get the update in waves. According to Myerson millions have already reserved the upgrade to Windows 10 and the roll out to them and others wil ramp up slowly after the 29th of July.

The first step will be to check compatibility with your system hardware and software and once that step has been cleared you will be able to begin your move from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

For those on the business side keep an eye over on our sister site, Windows IT Pro, as Rod is in the process of breaking things down for you including the feature distribution between all the different editions of Windows 10.

But, wait...there's probably more so be sure to follow me on Twitter and Google+.