Microsoft announced Tuesday that the next version of it flagship operating system, Windows 7, will be released on Oct. 22 of this year. Microsoft had been projecting a 2010 release and many (myself included) doubted the Redmond, WA-based company would be able to deliver. Windows 6 (Vista) was released many years later than originally projected and lacked many promised features, and Microsoft has a long history of missing its projected release dates for Windows and other projects. It appears that Microsoft may have changed its ways, and is in-fact revising its release projection for Windows 7 earlier than the original estimates.
All-in-all, Windows 7 is shaping up to be a great product . . . good features and a quick release cycle. A strong, successful Microsoft (competing fairly in the market) drives competition from the other operating system makers, and thus benefits all of us—even those of us who are pretty exclusively using Microsoft’s competitors these days.
We’ll see how it turns out.