It has been widely speculated that Windows 7, once scheduled for 2010, has actually been scheduled for a 2009 release for some time. After today, the signs sure aren’t pointing any closer to 2010. In fact, if recent details are to be believed, the OS in on track for release in the first half of 2009.
With the recent discovery that the May 3 – 7, 2009 WinHEC in New Orleans is the last Microsoft engineering conference prior to the release of Windows 7, Microsoft’s release window is just seven months between June of ’09 and May of ’10.
In fact, the Microsoft blog post regarding WinHEC stated it clearly:
“Be one of the first to see what’s new in Windows 7 and be among a select few to receive a pre-beta build of Windows 7. Join us as WinHEC 2008 – Register today. WinHEC is the only chance for you to engage with the team at this level – there is not another WinHEC planned before Windows 7 is released.”
So while Microsoft could be on track for that January 2010 release that they’ve been tossing around since Windows 7 was confirmed, most people are finding it terribly unbelievable. Combine this with the general OEM belief that Win7 is coming in 2009 and we have a whole lot of pretty convincing evidence.
Let’s hope that so soon a release date points to a lightweight product, rather than an OS so little-changed from Vista that few would be compelled to upgrade.
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