Windows 10 Creators Update Could Ship March 31, and We're Already Worried About Bugs

- Mark Hachman

So far, all Microsoft has promised for the Creators Update is that it will ship in “early 2017.” Two tantalizing clues suggest a more specific date: Both Microsoft’s Surface Studio PC and Dell’s Canvas monitor offer features closely tied to the Creators Update, and both now list shipping dates at the end of March. It’s no stretch to suppose that both companies would align those releases with the Creators Update, and Dell has said as much already.

 

Our caution stems from what happened when Windows 10’s Anniversary Update launched last August (go.pcworld.com/w10rev). A swarm of bugs came with it, including a login freeze (go.pcworld.com/ w10frz), as well as a more serious issue that crashed webcams (go. pcworld.com/w10cams). Third-party security firms, like McAfee, warned that their products might not be compatible (go.pcworld.com/ w10bugs2). Consumers and businesses certainly don’t want a repeat.

Why this matters:

Microsoft undoubtedly has pressure to push the Creators Update out the door to ensure that work on the other major Windows 10 update this year—Redstone 3—begins in time to meet holiday deadlines. We’re going to lay out the case that Microsoft could ship the Creators Update in two months’ time—but maybe it shouldn’t be in such a rush.

The clues to the timetable