Microsoft mistakenly reveals 2009 launch target for Windows 7, again
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Nov 7th 2008 6:26AM
posted Nov 7th 2008 6:26AM
If you haven't figured it out by now, Microsoft has two release dates for Windows 7: early 2010 according to its corporate PR stooges and sometime around mid 2009 according to everyone else. The reason for the padding is a fairly transparent attempt to avoid the public opinion fiasco resulting from Vista's chronic delays. Now Ina Fried over at CNET has it from Microsoft Director, Doug Howe, that Windows 7 should be ready for general consumption by the 2009 holidays. According to Fried, Howe's WinHEC presentation covering Microsoft's Velocity program to improve PC quality seemed to imply a mid-year Win7 launch. Apparently, a slide said that the Vista Velocity program would run through next spring and then continue on with Windows 7. Afterward, in an apparent direct response to the launch date question, Howe told Fried, "Definitely the holiday focus is going to be on 7." Using the Vista launch as a guide, that would put the new OS in the hands of OEMs and big business IT staff by mid-year, about 3-months before consumers if Vista's timeline holds true. This also aligns nicely with Microsoft's stated plan to launch the public beta early next year followed by a hinted, single release candidate prior to release for manufacturing. So go ahead, just make it official already Microsoft. You had us at pre-Beta.
Whenever it is, I just wish that they make the OS fully ready and clean before even getting it out; I don't care if it was mid 2009 or mid 2010, I can wait.
True, I just hope they don't rush it leaving major problems for the public to deal with.
but I guess they said that all vista programs and drivers are supported, so I hope it will be fine.
I hope it comes out in 3000 so they can call it Windows ME again
I loved the first one so much
I remember when this operating system called Longhorn was supposed to be released in 2003. No matter what, this looks bad for Microsoft. If they do release Windows 7 in 2009, it will likely be warmed over Vista. If they manage to take their time and get it right, Apple will probably get to market with Leopard.
Either way, it doesn't look good for Microsoft. I've been cheering for them for years, but I was in Junior High the last time they made a good operating system.
Your mom is pre-beta!
I just have a few request. SLi support, two versions (home and office), faster write/read for flash. And for once, I would like a Windows version to be stable without a freaking service pack, which seems to be the real version that they should be releasing. No one ever calls them out for this practice.
I still probably won't buy it, but I would be willing to borrow someone's CD and test it until activation runs out, just it case it doesn't smell like dog turds. Here's hoping against hope that Microsoft can get it right for once.
The 2009 launch date is focused for xp users that still aren't changed to vista, so they can wait a little and switch directly over 7. It is not a mistake but marketing.
And the 2010 real launch date is when the products will hit the street.
Well, most large corporates in the UK are still on XP (including new machines) and simply won't jump to Vista. It'll be interesting to see whether Windows 7 will provide the upgrade nudge that Vista didn't - I suspect it will...
If it provides an "upgrade nudge" it will be simply because of the glaring staleness of their current OS.
Honestly, there was no reason for anyone to upgrade to XP from 2000 in the business place because they were so similar, upgrading to Vista and Vista64 actually pose a challenge to IT teams because of the differences. However, many seem to be unaware that deploying Vista and 2008 are actually the easiest in the history of Windows.
MS will launch windows 7 six months after snow leopard ;)
Go back to your cave.
because you know if snow lepord comes out first, 90% of the computing world will just immediately switch to Mac. i'm sure dell and hp are ready to OEM...oh wait.
Yea, and by the time Snow Leopard came out, MS will get panicked again and release it early even though its not fully ready. Lets hope it doesn't become another Vista shall we. :cross fingers:
Just an FYI, apple played no part in Vista's flaws before SP1. Microsoft knew that it had to put something out there or else people would forget about them...
Will this before or after Ubuntu has DirectX Support?
LOL!
There should be much less launch headaches this time. Not because Microsoft has gotten better, but primarily because this is essentially Vista under the hood. Think of this is Vista SE. In Vista much of the change was structural, driver models etc.. The kind of thing that breaks software. This time much of the change is visual/interface.
Yep. Windows 7 = Vista Pro.
Let's hope they do away with the different editions of Windows.
There should be only 2 versions: an Ultra version with all the bells and whistles which the general public should get and a business/enterprise version which can be customized to reduce functionality (i.e. remove Media Center if the business so desired).
I for one hope they don't do away with multiple versions...but two is too few. Ultimate is a combination of business and home. So have a Pro and a Home to go along with it.
I suspect Windows 7 will be released sometime in the 2009.
You never know though.:)
Cheers
General
By putting a pathetic comment in there and the link means I will never visit your site because my respect falls for anyone who advertise there sites in such a way.
I do believe Windows 7 will be released by 2009 Summer. Two reasons.
1) Windows 7 is based on Windows Vista, the development cost is significantly lower than Vista, also, less time consumption to build the OS.
2)MS needs to boost the sales of Vista Cored OS before Vista Core is outdated while Vista.
Referring to PR professionals as "Stooges" detracts from Engadget's reputation as a reliable source for news and information. It's childish, cheap and unnecessary.
All right, all right, I'll get off your lawn already.
SO? All this hype over the last two weeks and we're looking at 6 months at a minimum? hmmm.
Ah, tis good news! If it follows vista release schedule and goes to RTM and OEMs first, then I shall be one of the people to download the WinBETA release and pirate away!
I'm running the pre-beta how and it's already better then vista w/sp1. Why - well because it's really vista sp2/1/2 and MS could release this in 60 days if they wanted to. Too bad MS wants to stick it to the customer to buy another OS. I have loaded all my software and it runs perfect on windows 7. Con job from MS so suck it up sheep!
No they couldn't release it in 60 days. The new stripped down core cannot replace the vista care files kernels whatever they're called. Microsoft have said it, analysts have said it even el jobso said it when he though he was having a sly dig at microsoft and no one seemed to care.
Lets remember Microsoft have alot more to do than apple when it comes to OS's. Apple only have to support a small amount of components when Microsoft have support millions. I Don't care when snow leopard comes out because I'll probably never buy it. Windows 7 does because that will be bought buy me. OSX lacks in alot of areas like downloads, compatibility and security. If vista is the most secure OS out there compared to OSX and Linux then hopefully windows 7 should be impressive. As long as there is no problems I don't care. To me vista was only a disaster because Microsoft wouldn't fight against people who had never used it like osx users apple themselves and Linux user who think Linux is user friendly (hahaahaahahahah). I can't wait.
I just realised I might be a Microsoft fan boy.
Only just now?
"OSX lacks in alot of areas like downloads, compatibility and security."
You have obviously never USED OSX.
"If vista is the most secure OS out there compared to OSX and Linux then hopefully windows 7 should be impressive."
Very big IF there.
Look across the internet you will see what i mean. In the most recent security competition (no idea what its called) OSX was hacked and cracked in two minutes Linux afew hours later Vista days after the competetion started. I mean OSX claims to be the most secure but hacked in two minutes seriuosly. I have never had a favourite OS but the constant vista bashing no one realy comes close to beating OS by windows. Personal opinion not fact.
@rattyuk
Why do fanboys assume we've never used the other OS?
We have. It didn't suit our needs. Deal with it.
I used to berate Mac users about the security thing, but then one of my friends told me that OS 9 had even less market share than OS X has now and it had viruses. The fact that OS X has more market share, but has 0 viruses, says something to me. You would think that with eight percent of the market share, that Macs would at least have 8 percent of the viruses, but they don't.
I'm not saying their security is better, because I honestly don't know, since I've never owned a Mac, but I've watched my best friend use his Mac and he has to provide an Administrator password whenever he installs software. No Cancel/Allow crap. An actual user name and password. That seems a little better to me.
@Paul
wait, you mean to tell me that you dont even OWN a mac?!?!? after allllllll your comments about sucking on jobs's teet you dont even own their product?!? what the hell man?
@Mark Anderson
Read what I wrote before posting snarky comments.
Thi Mam wrote: "OSX lacks in alot of areas like downloads, compatibility and security"
I was pointing out that it doesn't lack in the areas he was bullshitting about.
You Wrote:
"Why do fanboys assume we've never used the other OS? We have. It didn't suit our needs. Deal with it."
You are NOT Thi Mam you are assuming that he has before he posts crap. You might have had some experience with OSX but you are not the voice of the nation when responding to sarky comments.
@rattyuk
"You have obviously never USED OSX."
Stop digging, son. That hole's deep enough already.
Basically Microsoft are holed below the waterline. The only thing that will get them to improve is firing that idiot Ballmer from the top of the company. There are some very good people at Microsoft but until Ballmer goes they are basically stuffed.
@ Mark Anderson
""You have obviously never USED OSX."
Stop digging, son. That hole's deep enough already."
As I pointed out YOU are not the person who I pointed the first comment at. And if you are calling me son? What age are you?
7 will be ready for Summer. Why? I've been using prebeta full time for 2 weeks, and it is twice as fast as Vista, fixes all the bugs, compatible with everything, and in itself has no bugs. Has microsoft actually done it? Prebeta actually runs better than 8 year old tried and tested OS? Yes.
By Vista you mean WinXP? Because Vista is not a tried and tested 8 yr old OS, not by a long shot.
the first release date is for people to pay to be a beta2 tester. the second release date will incorporate the fixes after the testers are done reporting bugs.
I wonder if I'll get a refund on my PoS Vista license. :rolleyes:
We heard you moaning (in a non sexual way) the first time
Give us Windows Moble 7 damnit Microsoft! Fuck that Windows Mobile 6.5 nonsense (. I know that you (MS) are quit happy with HTC pimping the shit out of WM 6 beyond what anybody expected and now you (MS) are taking your sweet time with WM7. I'm a sad panda.
I would take a Touch HD if you gave it to me for free though..
http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=news&id=6202
From what i understood windows mobile 7 was heading for 2010. I don't really know much about windows mobile but that is what I have been told
WM7 aka Photon was supposed to comme out last year (as WM6) but was delayed and became WM7. It was supposed to be a Q4 2008-Q12009 now it's being pushed t'il Q3-Q4 2009 (or even Q1 2010 now that there' this 6.5 stuff) I blame partly HTC for this. The awesome job they did with the TouchFlo3D GUI probably made MS think that they can take some more time to polish WM7 given the WM smartphones a still selling like hotcakes Worldwide.
And this relates to Windows 7 how?
newsflash topic is: WINDOWS 7 and a 2009 leaked release date - not Windows mobile 7 - please try to ignore what the voices in your head is telling you!
Here's some interesting news I just found in nVidia Q3 report:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/104608-nvidia-corporation-f3q09-qtr-end-10-26-08-earnings-call-transcript?page=-1
"Marv Burkett
Tegra is doing really well. And I’ve said that Tegra was not ready for production this year because the design win process tends to be longer. And I also have said that Tegra is coming out party is really spring of next year. So, I look forward to talking to you much more about that, spring of next year."
So here's one of the reason why WM7 is being delayed again. If you remember Tegra was supposed to come out in Q4 08 just like WM7...
Tegra look really impressive but i though nvidia were creating their own mobile operating system. Is windows 7 delayed because of tegra or is it coincidence.
Honestly they need more time to polish WinMo7. HTC proved that the interface doesnt have to suck. They need more touch interface support (inc better touch keyboard). They need to fix the task manager to actually close programs like the HTC plugin and others. Improve IE all around - tabbed browsing, touch zoom features, flash support. A real browser, not just a toy. Streamline or improve resource management for better performance. Fix Office mobile. Its a glorified viewer right now - Docs to go kicks its ass.
WinMo rose to ascendancy, not through being better but because Palm dropped the ball. Apple and Google are now picking up that ball.
@Thi mam(kris120890)
Tegra runs on top of Windows CE (WM).
http://www.nvidia.com/object/apx_2500.html
Now it makes perfect sense because from what i understand the arm processor to be used in the tegra platform will be use in many mobile phones with or without tegra or not so is more or less Microsoft using as much time to perfect 7 to the new typical hardware in mobile phones. Thanks for clearing that up. Both mobile 7 and tegra look good, I mean 10 hours of 1080P outputted through HDMI to 1080P TV( Even if it used some modded battery.
I don't get what the surprise is, Microsoft said that they'll stick to a 3 year plan now. They will release a new OS every 3 years. Vista came out in 2006. 2006+3=2009!
I think it has something to do with Microsoft and sticking to a schedule.
3 years from the general availabilty of vista which was Jan 07.
hey thi mam, os x wasn't hacked at all, the flaw was in the safari web browser built by a separate team and the same exploit lies in windows too, that is until it was patched up. Now i'm a full time mac user, I'll never go back, i recommend everyone to try it. All systems have their flaws, some just have more then others.
Just as all systems have their games and third party apps. Just some have more than others.
I'm just happy that finally Microsoft are pulling out all the stops both in development efforts and in marketing efforts. apple need to get their lunch handed to them. For too long they had free reign to spread misinformation and downright bullshit. Microsoft have awaken, they've got two companies in their sights, google and apple.
From what I've seen, read and understand of what's going into W7, and WM7 things are going to be different going forward. Adoption of Vista is on target and to be accurate, it's ahead of XP for the same period of time after a launch. (fact not fiction) Would they want it to be further, of course they would, they've spent an enormous amount of time and money on Vista development.
The benefits that I see for W7 are simple.
1) more control, (something most apple users don't understand or can't grasp) apple's prescriptive model is not for me or for most computer users based on the numbers (90% use windows operating systems)
2) smaller memory footprint
3) lower power consumption
4) more user focused UI changes
5) FAST, FAST, FAST.. and this is on a pre-beta version..
You know, i'm wondering if this low memory footprint means that they cut out super-fetch that preloaded programs into memory before you needed it so that they would load faster. That made a lot of people think that windows was taking up all their memory even though it really wasn't using it all for windows.
I'm not an Apple fanboy, but Apple is successful because they treat the iPhone like what it primarily is- a phone. MS needs to understand- a mobile phone is a phone first, and a computing device second. Say it again with me everyone- "A mobile phone is a phone first, and a computing device second." Feel better? I do.
>> 1) more control, (something most apple users don't understand or can't grasp) apple's prescriptive model is not for me or for most computer users based on the numbers (90% use windows operating systems)
I hope that doesn't mean we have to wade through 5 menus (with or without a stylus) to do everything. That's not the control that users want or need on a phone. Mark my words, all of that speed wont mean squat if the interface is crappy and full of cumbersome menus. This is a sure fire formula for Apple to continue to hand MS it's @$$.
When you are on a call, do you want to have to wade through menu after menu full of crap to do what you want? (If you even have the ability to navigate at all while on a call?) Man, I sure don't.
People using a phone want an easy way to make a call and find directions, or find directions while on a call. All with a few taps of the finger. It's all so dead simple and easy to do on an iPhone. Microsoft (and all other mobile phone user interface development companies) up until now have treated their phones like a little PC, forcing the poor caller to wade through mounds of junk to do every cumbersome thing. Then they have to wait for that hourglass to go away. Users hate this. (Or will, when they have their fast yet cumbersome WM phone and they see the iPhone's simplicity.) This is a model for the late '90s and it needs to die a quick and painful death.
I'm trying to be an optimist for MS, but they always like to overload the user with features that are hard to navigate to. What a train wreck for MS. I hope MS has learned their harsh lesson.
@alex
This is about Windows 7... not windows MOBILE 7... compare it to Mac OS X if you want... not to the iPhone...
The Windows 7 demos on video look good. The need to do two things
1) KISS it - don't start loading it down with crap it doesn't need or that few people will use, or that is really just designed for corporate users or copyright interests, etc. All that should be offered as optional plug-ins or something. Keep it lean and fast.
2) More work needs to be done on creating both a clean and interesting GUI - flashy graphics alone won't do it. They need to hire people that understand design for the user experience. OSX is clearly ahead in this regard. It really does affect productivity and the user experience.
Does Windows 7 include COPY/PASTE?
Are there any links out there right now that show a preview of what 7 will look like? Link me plz.
People really need to try the other product before they start talking about how bad it is... Plus once Windows 7 RC is out then lets all make a decision til then keep your hands in your pockets.
It'll be interesting to see when the it'll will finally be released. IMO, MS in general has a pretty liberal definition of when software is 'ready' to be released, but given the pressure for damage control from the debacle that is Vista, they may feel it's worth being flexible with their release dates until it actually IS ready (which in itself is humorous...how is it that it has become acceptable for Windows to be released before fully baked?)
Been running Windows 7 for 28 days now (it's gonna expire in 2) and I have to say it's solid. Microsoft should have waited and released it instead of Vista. Every 30 days I'm just gonna keep reinstalling it until it comes out, it's that good. For those of you that have it and want the uber bar from builds post 6801, there is a way to unlock it: http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/11/02/flashy-windows-7-bits-protected-by-elaborate-scheme-workaround/
so its vista sp3 , but renamed as a whole new OS , ohh i get it.
So we should expect it in 2011 then?
I'm a PC
i always wonder why people have a tendency to respond to bad comments...
Oops, did I just do it?
Your right about the games but i got my 360 for that n use my mac for work, browsing watching movies n other stuff!!! But third party apps... hmm i'd say there's 1 out of every thousand windows apps that's worth dl'ing yeah, but you get some real gems on a mac the shitty to good app ratio is better. search if you don't believe me.
I'm hoping they will wait until 2010, so they get most of the bugs worked out BEFORE they release it. They can't afford another mess like Vista, everyone in the corporate world will jump to Macs.
Have they said anything about Windows 7 being FASTER or more efficient than Vista or XP?
I really hope that windows 7 is available through OEM by mid 09. I am going to go to college next year and want to have the latest version of windows if its windows 7. i hate vista, but i've used windows 7 and i would switched permanently right now if i could. I at least hope i can get a laptop for school that has a window 7 upgrade or compatible sticker or something. Upgrade program would be nice for students.