Microsoft is making history with Windows 10, the operating system that we’ve been told is the last in a long line due to the fact this OS will receive ongoing constant updates. Windows chief Terry Myerson talking about Windows as a service reiterated this last week, saying “we will never be done” concerning upgrades.

But for now Microsoft is at least almost ready to release finished versions of Windows to RTM customers (release to manufacturing). Prior to the RTM release a few builds will be released at the same time, which are what Microsoft calls RTM candidates. These go to the vote and the best one will then be released as the official RTM. Some of these builds have already appeared online. While Windows 10 will be frequently updated, the RTM released should come without any bugs. It’s essentially a finished unfinished product.

Following this the public will receive the release, starting with Windows Insiders and businesses, and then, as we earlier reported, rolling out Windows 10 in waves. As Myerson puts it: “Each day of the roll-out, we will listen, learn and update the experience.”

This is an historic moment for Microsoft, who is now coming to the end of its biggest Windows release to date. Some costs remain uncertain, but we do know that Windows 7 and Windows 8 users will be getting the upgrade for free, at least for a year. Microsoft is hoping that Windows as a service will bring in revenue from subscriptions and other services, rather than selling software licenses. Time will tell if Microsoft’s new business model will pay off. The company, as we reported here, seems very confident it will.

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