Microsoft Hoses Down Vienna Rumours

By Greg McNevin

February 16th, 2007: Microsoft is on a mission to cool rumours circulating that it will be replacing Vista by late 2009 with the code named “Vienna” OS.

While it hasn’t confirmed or denied anything in particular, Kevin Kutz, Director of Windows Client wrote in a note on Microsoft's website that "The launch of Windows Vista was an incredibly exciting moment for our customers and partners around the world, and the company is focused on the value Windows Vista will bring to people today. We are not giving official guidance to the public yet about the next version of Windows, other than that we're working on it. When we are ready, we will provide updates."

The rumours that Vista could be replaced within two and a half years were kicked off by Ben Fathi, corporate vice president of development with Microsoft’s Windows Core Operating System Division, earlier this week. However, from what Kutz says, Fathi’s statement is apparently not “official guidance”.

It’s understandable for Microsoft to want to focus on Vista, however, with Bill Gates saying that five years is too long to wait for a new OS and the company back-pedalling over a 2009 release, one has to wonder how long it will actually be until we are all compelled to hit the arduous and costly upgrade cycle all over again.

It took XP many years and two service packs to become a trusted and arguably secure platform. Vista still has to earn its stripes, however, while it may do so in the next year or two, if it is to be replaced within the next say, three years, what is to stop businesses simply sticking with XP a while longer and skip the Vista step entirely?

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