Microsoft vice president of Windows product management Mike Nash has blogged that the next version of Windows will be called "Windows 7." We have known about Windows 7 for a while now, but this is the first confirmation that "Windows 7" will be the actual product name and not just an internal code reference.

Nash elaborated on the rationale as well, noting how Microsoft has, over the years, tried out various naming conventions such as version numbers (Windows 3.11), dates (Windows 98, Windows 2000), and aspirational monikers (Windows XP and Windows Vista).  The feel is that a new name, at this point, will not do justice to Microsoft's continual investment into the Windows Vista platform technology. The blogosphere is skeptical though, with the response so far ranging from generally muted to critical.

To read more about what Mike Nash has to say:
- check out Microsoft's Windows Vista Blog

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