Microsoft backpedals on Vista successor

Sometimes, the future is not as close as we think. Or not as close as Microsoft thinks. Just a few days ago, Ben Fathi, a Windows Core operating System Division executive boldly told an industry expert to expect the follow up to the company's Vista operating system to ship in two years. Considering that it seems like it sometimes takes Microsoft two years to release a driver, most of us were skeptical. Unsurprisingly, the company is now trying to distance themselves from that wacky dude who made the comment. "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 company said in a statement. Allow me to translate: You'll get it in another six years, if you're lucky.

For more on the next release of Windows:
- see this ZDnet blog entry