Windows 7 Shipping Holiday 2009

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While some of us here don’t feel Windows Vista to be the atrocity that many others make it out to be, there’s no denying that it was a stumble for Microsoft.

For some PC users and Microsoft alike, Windows Vista couldn’t be replaced soon enough. For this reason, Microsoft is likely putting a rush order to get Windows 7 out the door as soon as possible.

According to comments received by CNET from Microsoft director Doug Howe, Windows 7 will be shipping on new PCs as soon as a year from now, for holiday 2009.

"Definitely the holiday focus is going to be on 7," Howe said.

While the last piece of software that anyone would want rushed is an operating system, early looks at the Windows 7 place it as a solid evolution that should address most of the complaints users had of Vista, plus some new features such as extended notebook battery life.

Check out our latest picture story of a Windows 7 pre-beta build on Tom’s Guide.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
36 Comments Comment from the forums
  • peteroy
    3 years after vista is not soon enough
    Reply
  • DFGum
    Vista works pretty good now (still not the most novice friendly OS tho)
    Too bad it couldnt get over being bad for so long.
    Reply
  • LAN_deRf_HA
    Vista really is a nice enthusiast OS now, especially after you disable about a 100 services and keep your install tidy and free of crap programs. If you want to go the full distance you can disable aero and caching and end up with comparable ram usage too, but some users are smart enough to realize that's pointless. Vista drops the cache when it's not needed and shuts off aero for games and somewhat when you full screen normal programs.
    Reply
  • jhansonxi
    "For this reason, Microsoft is likely putting a rush order to get Windows 7 out the door as soon as possible."

    Like that always results in a quality product. :P
    Reply
  • lukeiamyourfather
    Is it just me or does Windows 7 have a user interface that looks a lot like KDE 4? I don't understand the Vista hate, its a lot better OS than any previous Windows version. Progress is good though, especially for those unwilling to upgrade to Vista (what is that, 7 years on one OS).
    Reply
  • although vista isn't bad... what reason/incentive is there for me to get it? when a "better" system is just around the corner right when i'll be building next...
    Reply
  • malveaux
    Shame on Microsoft. Seriously. Shame on them.

    If they're going to FORCE Vista onto people the way they did and EARN the Windows XP backlash that they felt the sting of, going and dropping it and pushing Windows Azure (7) is also a nice big SLAP in the face to the people who actually have Vista. Whether it came OEM on a computer you purchased, or if you *gasp* actually went and bought Vista (like all the Ultimate users), your expensive frigg'n OS that you bought just got officially time stamped as Azure (7) is replacing it basically immediately. One year away, we're Windows Azure. If they're rushing it, it may end up a turd at release--just like Vista was when it was released. The problem is, Azure is just Vista, minus a lot of bloat. It's not even that much different from Vista the way Vista was actually quite different from XP.

    Microsoft is really pulling a damned if you do, damned if you don't here. Damn you people from DirectX10 if you don't buy into Vista. Damn you people who do have Vista, because now Azure is coming in a year. You just wasted a lot of money on Vista.

    Frankly, Microsoft should offer FREE Azure to ALL Vista users.

    Very best,
    Reply
  • marcellis22
    Extended attery life... A GREAT feature for another Microsnot OS... What happened to the new file system, Bill? Let's make changes so we can sell more training to do the same jobs we did in the past, only Microsnot can do NOTHING and still try to make money.
    Reply
  • Vista SP1 is running a LOT faster, stable, and better than XP SP3 as I have found. People complain about Vista because you need a good computer to run it, same was with XP when it came out. In one year of Vista sales compared to XP sales, Vista has sold about three times the copies that XP has in its 1st year. I do not like how MS is rushing Windows at all. MS needs to take a look, get Vista SP2 out to fix more bugs, then eventually SP3. THEN work on 7 ^_^
    Reply
  • NuclearShadow
    Its already known that Windows 7 will be basically Vista with minor differences. Whether you love or hate Vista you have to admit Microsoft failed epically when it comes to convincing people to switch.

    Now this means that Windows 7 is really just Vista with a new marketing plan starting with a new name. Can they really win over consumers by doing this is the question. I say no if people are educated that its a Vista clone even more so if Apple uses its TV ads to attack this fact. If it becomes a large failure then expect a real new OS next time.
    Reply