Microsoft Delays Vista

In an announcement, the company has pushed-back the launch of its already delayed Vista to consumers - from late 2006 to early 2007, quoting the reason that PC manufacturers need sufficient time to test the running of this platform on their systems. But yes - the business version will arrive till November 2006, though home users will have to wait until Jan 2007.

Jim Allchin, co-president, Microsoft Corp, said that the industry requires greater lead time to deliver Windows Vista on new PCs during the holiday season, and that hence the company has decided to separate business from consumer availability.

Windows Vista is being awaited with baited breath - especially since it is Microsoft's first major update to its operating system - since the launch of Windows XP in late 2001.

Currently available in limited beta version, Microsoft plans to make available six versions of Windows Vista. Vista promises to be an improvement over Windows XP in terms of security functions and a quicker start-up. Yet it is believed that when Vista releases, some of the key features that were originally intended - will be conspicuously absent.

Although disappointment hangs in the air post Microsoft's announcement, most users are in agreement over the premise that it is better for Microsoft to ship a completed product rather than one like the much criticized Windows XP.