Microsoft roadmap pegs Windows 8 release for 2012, or just after the world's end

It's somewhat hard to believe that we're already talking about Windows 8 given that Windows 7 just hit the shelves two months ago, but you know the engineers at Microsoft are already planning ahead. According to a roadmap constructed over at Microsoft Kitchen -- based around whispers heard through the grapevine on the eventual release of the next Windows Server -- the next iteration of Windows is tentatively pegged for release in the year 2012. Of course, a three-year window between Windows 7 and the next version is totally believable, but we wouldn't go planning your end of the world party with the assumption that a new OS will be the main attraction. Or you could, but then you might be disappointed, which would be a sucky way to go out.

[traceroute Posted Nov 21st 2009 2:06PM]

http://i48.tinypic.com/9hksd5.jpg

[Dusty Posted Nov 21st 2009 2:07PM]

Lol at the title, the world's end.

[harbingerofdoom Posted Nov 21st 2009 2:08PM]

annnnnnnnnd we are worried about this nowwwww cauuuusssseeeeeeeeeeeeeee



why?

[Greg7388 Posted Nov 21st 2009 2:11PM]

I wonder what Mac OS features will be used as inspiration for this version.

[baylad Posted Nov 21st 2009 2:20PM]

Can i be the first person to say that i don't like windows 8

[Professor Kaos Posted Nov 22nd 2009 9:29AM]

The feature of being an smug mac asshole?

[baylad Posted Nov 21st 2009 2:24PM]

Can i be the first person to say that i don't like windows 8

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 21st 2009 2:35PM]

That's great! It starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes, an airplane.

[forg0tmypen Posted Nov 21st 2009 2:52PM]

I wonder if windows 8 is something Microsoft has been working on for these last few years or if it is meant to be a minor improvment such as windows 98?

[Ducman69 Posted Nov 21st 2009 3:02PM]

If you look at the history of Windows, the huge gap before any real updated to Windows XP, and then a poorly executed one at that, has been the slap in the face to Microsoft to wake up and get back to regular good updates at three year intervals.

I am glad they learned their lesson, and hope the developers responsible for Windows 7 continue to work their magic with 8.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 21st 2009 3:27PM]

Whatever it is you want
...
Microsoft will have it...
...
the day after you no longer care anymore

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 21st 2009 3:39PM]

I didn't know Windows 8 could end the world 0_0.

[pUnqfUrs Posted Nov 21st 2009 3:46PM]

"based around whispers"? um, no. it's based on whispers. tech jargon is fine - grammar jargon is irritating.

[exenter Posted Nov 21st 2009 3:53PM]

Why so soon? I though Windows 7 was the new XP. Give it 6 years to live!

[iamme Posted Nov 21st 2009 4:06PM]

Windows 8 could create a time paradox, the results of which could cause a chain reaction that would unravel the very fabric of the space time continuum, and destroy the entire universe proving the 2012 apocalypse to be true! Granted, that's a worse case scenario. The destruction might in fact be very localized, limited to merely our own galaxy.

[TAnker737 Posted Nov 21st 2009 4:07PM]

HAHA love the tittle

[collindow Posted Nov 21st 2009 4:16PM]

!!!!

[smallj Posted Nov 21st 2009 4:35PM]

i cant wait for windows 8 hopefully there will be a lot of improvements that integrates androids and macs os's so that it will be sleeker and have more ways to get to files I also hope that they actually come out with a descent looking computer to fit the new os these computers are a little thick (laptops) and the desktops all look alike

[BlazeBlaster Posted Nov 21st 2009 5:03PM]

Or maybe, Windows 8 will be the end of the world?!?!

Hypothetical situation...

Microsoft makes everyone update to Windows 8, but Steve Jobs plants a virus in the release, and everyone's computer crashes, stocks deplete, and Taco Bells strives...

Oh wait, I'm just stargazing again

[whoster69 Posted Nov 21st 2009 5:30PM]

They are just being cautious. They don't want to get blamed for the end of the world...

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 21st 2009 7:42PM]

lol

[lie07 Posted Nov 21st 2009 8:08PM]

very original codename...
thye might wanna rls it earlyy

[Frankenstein Black Posted Nov 21st 2009 9:27PM]

5 reasons to wait for Windows "9":
1. 3.1-bad, 3.11-good
2. 95-bad, 98-good
3. Me-bad, XP-good
4. Vista-bad, 7-good
5. 8-yikes, 9-well you see where this is going...

PS This of course excludes server/business editions (i.e. NT, etc)

[ttlblsht Posted Nov 21st 2009 11:46PM]

i would go for a portable widows not a new one

[flett Posted Nov 22nd 2009 1:25AM]

maybe by end of the world the myans ment the end of mac. just kidding

[Berkut Posted Nov 22nd 2009 4:24AM]

Well, as long as Microsoft releases Win8 before December 21 2012, then we might just get a chance to play with it before our lights go out. Never know, some might have it on their "Bucket List" :)

[dankerk Posted Nov 22nd 2009 5:10AM]

Win 8 100% touch screen, yes.

[pobeeno Posted Nov 22nd 2009 10:30AM]

Wow, I absoluelty LOVE Windows 7 so I am guessing Windows 8 will totally ROCK.

RT
www.ultimate-privacy.br.tc

[m854 Posted Nov 22nd 2009 11:21PM]

Clearly Windows 8 will be a bad version. XP SP2 (Server 2003 R2) and Windows 7 (Server 2008 R2) were good, but XP and Vista (server 2003 and Server 2008) were bad when they were first released. Windows 9 should be a lot better, and it will fix all of Windows 8's problems, unless they fix them in Windows 8 SP2, in which case Windows 9 might not be very good either.

[trinh Posted Nov 23rd 2009 4:06AM]

2012 is the year for the earths end, and also the year microsoft squashes mac os x in so many ways!

[Dillon Posted Nov 24th 2009 9:10PM]

At least Microsoft is moving forward...
Has anybody noticed that Apple has been on Mac OS X 10 since 2001?!?! All they do is keep adding gradual updates, like better UI, or 64-bit. Well Windows XP had 64-bit, and I prefer numbers to the past 7 releases of Mac cats