Microsoft mistakenly reveals 2009 launch target for Windows 7, again
By Thomas Ricker 
posted November 7th 2008 6:26AM
posted November 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.
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.