01/14/2009, 12:45pm, EST
Wednesday, January 14thWindows 7, Office 14 both due early?
Both Windows 7 and its Office 14 companion suite are all but certain to ship in 2009, an internal Microsoft source tells SAI. The tip supports notions of an accelerated launch and asserts that Microsoft's insistence on an early 2010 target for either release is just a public front to manage expectations, as both software packages are near-certain to arrive later in 2009. Microsoft's new Windows chief is credited with the speed-up courtesy of his discipline in releasing software early.
"EVERYONE knows it is coming out in 2009," the anonymous contact writes in referring to Windows. "The same should be said for Office 14... the guy who use to run Office, Steven Sinofsky, now runs Windows. Obviously the two groups will have the same policies around disclosure."
The apparent leak follows the release of just a single Windows 7 beta this past weekend that is functionally complete, confirming the company's plans for a shortened release schedule that may see only a single widely distributed release candidate before Microsoft ships the software to stores. Windows 7 mostly focuses on the user interface and performance gains and so is fundamentally near-identical to Vista underneath, simplifying Microsoft's development time.
Filed under: software
Other story tags: Microsoft, Windows 7, Office
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Old news
This is old news, it's been known for a while (MS even said it before) that Windows 7 was due out Mid-2009.
alright!!!!!
Wow I can't wait for vista revisited...I mean windows 7! what do people think windows 7 is going to be? a completely new OS? Nope just a updated version of windoze visturd....
Same old, same old...
How long does it take to make up a new skin for XP/Vista?
When Windows 7 ships, we'll all know.
an old trick
Product doesn't sell? Don't actually make it any better - just put it in a different box and call it "improved".
Very old trick indeed
Apple has been doing it for years.
But is it good?
Who cares if it is a rebranded version of Vista if they have indeed improved its performance and usability?
Vista was obviously an unfinished product kicked out the door and MS has suffered accordingly for it. Let's see if they learned anything from their public flogging.
Of course, I never purchased Vista, so I have no hard feelings. I run OS X and only use Windows XP on the side for games. But I'd happily upgrade XP to Win7 if it was a finished-quality product that actually improved my user experience.
Re: But is it good
Vista was obviously an unfinished product kicked out the door and MS has suffered accordingly for it.
Actually it suffered from bad publicity (and I just love those who keep trying to say any publicity is good publicity). Most people never tried Vista, they were all scared away from it by on-line reviews and word of mouth.
The biggest problem I ever had running it was what apps were or weren't supported (and its odd that most of the unsupported apps happen to be MS's).
The biggest problem MS has with Windows is that, unlike Apple, they don't have that fever-pitched drooling mass of fans who will accept with little whining a new OS release that happens to break backward compatibility with certain hardware and/or software. Apple's "forward thinking" while MS puts out "unfinished and incompatible product".
Testudo
I agree with your comment. It is shocking how few people think for themselves. I've been using vista since day 1 and I've never had a serious problem.
A funny thing I've noticed about this forum is the people that stand by their apple computers the most are the same people constantly seeking help with a mac-related troubleshooting issues elsewhere on the forum. Check it out... click on their names.
It's like they don't want to admit they paid a 20% premium for nothing ;)
@testudo
Well, actually you're wrong on that. I personally installed it and tried it. Both on a PC, and one my MBP. And it WAS sluggish, and it WAS annoying and unstable. So just as you claim, you're doing the same thing that you're condoning. You shouldn't generalize either.
A lot of people were excited about Vista, but very disappointed after trying it. I know of several of my friends who bought new laptops, used Vista for two weeks and put a copy of XP on it. People don't do that for no reason; obviously something bothered them enough.
And of course, there are cases, where everything worked nicely with people's hardware and applications, and it was fine. I'm sure there are millions of those (you included).
Also, Microsoft has enough "bleeding edge" users, and much more fever-pitched drooling masses (including you) who will jump at the next OS release; just check out the download stats on Windows 7. Heck, just the number of Application developers for Windows, outnumbers the entire Mac User base. I know a lot of those, and they all had Vista (they almost have to). Many of THOSE people didn't like it.
You're a real hypocrite .....
@luckydat
You're a complete MORON and a troll. Obviously no computer system or OS is perfect. We all have problems and incompatibility. Everyone's system is somehow different and unique. It's all relative. Mac OS X is much much better than Windows, but it's not perfect. NO System is perfect.
You're just a dumbass .... You don't think you paid a premium for Vista? Let's see the real numbers you paid for your Vista system Anti-Virus Anti-malware, plus I'm sure it'll be more than many of us Mac users.