Ok this looks a little more concrete than earlier dates, which said 2012, but it looks like we could have a new OS as early as next year.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/Windows-8 ... 32658.html


Windows 8 RTM to Hit in July 2011
03:50 - Thursday 28 January 2010 by Jane McEntegart
Source: Tom's Hardware US – Keywords: Windows, 8, RTM, Release, Date Category : Software

While we're all basking in the warm, sunny glow of Windows 7, it's no secret that Microsoft is already working on Windows 8. However, a recent roadmap shows that the next iteration of Windows could arrive sooner than you think.

Late last year a roadmap shown at PDC 2009 revealed Windows 8 would see a "~2012" release. While that little tilde before 2012 had us believing it would be more like the first half of 2013 and Microsoft was just affording itself some wiggle-room, it looks like we'll see the OS sooner than 2012.

A former Microsoft employee by the name of Chris Green recently posted a visual graph detailing Microsoft's product lifecycle index. As msftkitchen points out, this graph contains an awful lot of information that can already be found from Microsoft's Support Lifecycle Index. However, Green has mentioned some things that aren't listed on the MS Lifecycle Index; namely dates for Windows 8, Windows 8 Server and Office 15.

Green's graph have Windows 8 RTM down for July 1, 2011, with mainstream support from July 1, 2011 to July 1, 2016 and extended support from 2016 to July, 2021.

Office 15 is pegged for a July 2, 2012 RTM; mainstream support from 2012 to June 30, 2017 and extended support from July 3, 2017 to July 5, 2022.

Green has Microsoft Server 8 down for the same dates. So that's a July 2, 2012 RTM with mainstream support from 2012 to June 30, 2017 and extended support from July 3, 2017 to July 5, 2022.

Green left Microsoft on January 12, at least, that's when he blogged about his leaving Microsoft. However, the update that has everyone talking was posted on December 9, presumably while he was still a Redmond employee.

Nice information... why such an early release is my question.. I would doubt if there is any major changes from windows 7!

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/windows-8 ... 32769.html


Tom's Hardware > News > Solutions > Windows 8: 'Completely Different', 'Mind-blowing'
Windows 8: 'Completely Different', 'Mind-blowing'
01:40 - Friday 12 February 2010 by Marcus Yam
Source: Tom's Hardware US – Keywords: windows, 8, windows.next Category : Software

Some inside Microsoft is calling the next Windows -- wait for it -- "Windows.next--With Microsoft targeting a Windows 8 RTM date of around July 2011, work should be well underway. While we've already caught glimpses of work on top of Windows 7 in a recent 7700 build, we don't much about what will be different.

Windows 7 fixed a lot of the issues and discontent surrounding Windows Vista, so where will Microsoft go from here? A now-removed blog post from MSDN (but salvaged from Google Cache by MSFTKitchen) hinted that there will be great things to expect from an OS that'll show itself just two years following Windows 7.

The popular name for the next version is still Windows 8, but the blog entry did point out that some inside Microsoft are referring to it as Windows.next. Not only that, but the writer also characterized the upcoming Windows version as "something completely different from what folks usually expect of Windows…" (see the full post reproduced below).

John Mangelaars, Regional VP of Consumer and Online at Microsoft EMEA, added in a separate interview, "[Apple is] doing well on the PC side but Windows 7 is a blockbuster. We got it really right. For me, Windows 8 will be mind-blowing."

One of the great (or maybe not so great) things of being at Microsoft is that every other person wants to ask you why Windows works the way it does. Since I'm part of the Windows update team I get asked even more why does my machnie reboot everytime there is an update and why are there so many updates. So naturally once Windows 7 shipped, my friends, neighbours, relatives, and whoever else you can imagine started asking me So whats next?

Folks started asking me whats in Windows 8 - and the first thing I have to say is that I resonate Steven Sinofsky's interview on who said we're calling it Windows 8? I agree with Steven that till things are baked there is no point floating ideas since it leaves people frustrated when things don't turn out the way they expected. The Windows team promised to deliver a smarter, faster and more user friendly OS with Windows 7 and they delivered just that - the latest quaterly results of Microsoft are a clear indication that Windows 7 has been a success and customers got what Microsoft had promised them! The plan is to use a similar approach for the next version of Windows and till things are finalized you're not going to get a "marketing" name from us:)

So how am I referring to the next version of Windows without saying that many words - well simple - Windows.next:) This is definitely not the official version but a version that is becoming common along my circle. So what are our plans for this next version...

The minimum that folks can take for granted is that the next version will be something completly different from what folks usually expect of Windows - I am simply impressed with the process that Steven has setup to listen to our customers needs and wants and get a team together than can make it happen. To actually bring together dozens and dozens of teams across Microsoft to come up with a vision for Windows.next is a process that is surreal! The themes that have been floated truly reflect what people have been looking for years and it will change the way people think about PCs and the way they use them. It is the future of PCs...

Thats about it for this post for the time being - I know I'm not sharing much at this point but right now I can't as we work towards finalizing that vision. Feel free to post your comments on what you think Windows.net should be like!

Can we wait to 2012?