The Possibility of Windows 7...

[Mr. Analog]

So, I'm sure most of us propeller heads have read the "leaked" Microsoft roadmap showing a mid-2009 release for a new Microsoft OS (Windows 7). Whether it's an outright fabrication, a marketing ploy by Microsoft or something legit is sort of corollary to the general internet vibe that Vista was an aborted release and needs a replacement comparable to XP.

Granted, many of the techie sites I visit are slanted heavily against Microsoft, and if that colours me than so be it. But I find that average users who are subjected to Vista dislike it to the point of asking me for legitimate ways of acquiring XP licenses. (A good artist friend of mine is having endless frustrations finding workable [Japanese] drivers for their Tablet and video card).

So, knowing that there are a few people on the board here that run Vista, what is your take? If "Windows 7" came out midway next year would you jump on board? Do you think Vista has life to keep going for four or five more years?

[Lazybones]

I was running vista in Edmonton but when I moved to Vancouver I switched back to XP. The Two techs that sit beside me here run Vista and have all sorts of trouble with tools not working. Every day they edge closer to going back to XP.

[Mr. Analog]

I find that interesting. Our client considered a Vista migration scheme about three months ago but found that many of the required software was either unsupported on that platform or had usability issues.

[Lazybones]

Both users updated to the SP1 RC to try and solve some of the issues. However SP1 includes a new RDP client which seems to not be 100% backward compatible with connecting to the console.

[Cova]

This "new" windows is probably a similar release like what they did with Server 2003 R2.  Making it a new release instead of a service pack lets them use it to promote buying sofware assurance (free upgrades, or you pay full new price to upgrade to R2).  I've got a feeling that this new OS is not much more than a Vista R2.

[Mr. Analog]

Quite possibly, one can never be sure with Microsoft (recalling the transition between 98SE -> ME -> XP).

If indeed this is a release candidate I sincerely hope that Microsoft takes criticisms into account when determining what elements to focus on for a release (be it a stop-gap or a full blown OS revision).

[Tom]

From what I've read, "Windows 7" is one of those "three to five years out" type technologies.

Though they will be using the MinWin kernel in some of the mobile and possibly server versions of windows much sooner, I can't honestly believe MS will get out an entire desktop OS based on it in less than 3 years.