Current time line is to bring Windows 7 to RTM (Release to Manufacturer) in Q4 2009. Actual release should be Q1 2010. Note that this is not a set time line. MS can and probably will change this between now and then.

Didn't think it was. I think that he's friggen rushing the thing out to quick!

Remember two years ago, the same thing happened with Windows Vista, and he had to retract his then '06 release and wait until last year.

You also have to realize that 7 is not set to be an evolutionary jump for Windows. As MS puts it, it is supposed to be Vista with the added features promised in Vista (and maybe a few others). So while Vista was supposed to be a jump this one is mostly to correct Vista's mistakes, so it's timeline will be understandably shorter. Besides, I don't think people are going to stand for MS continuing it's 6-7 year wait for the next OS just to get failed promises and junk.

I haven't looked at Vista much but I had a play with it in a store today. I didn't see much in terms of functionality that could justify paying cash for it. The GUI effects are nice but it's nothing I couldn't have done on a Linux box eons before Vista was released. For now I see no reason to change from XP.