Microsoft gunning for Windows 7 release in October 2009?

Windows Vista was perceived badly by the general public and millions of dollars in ad campaigns don't seem to be able to change the bad image of this operating system. So some believe Microsoft may chose to release its next operating system asap.

The Tech Report reports new evidence has been found that may suggest Microsoft is planning to release Windows 7 a lot sooner than expected:

Ronald already caught this one in the 'bread, but it definitely deserves some extra attention. The guys at istartedsomething have noticed something very interesting on the website for Microsoft's WinHEC 2008 developer conference. Under the headline, "Get the Windows 7 Pre-Beta Build at WinHEC 2008," Microsoft states clearly, "there is not another WinHEC planned before Windows 7 is released."

WinHEC 2008 will take place on in early November, but previous events have typically occurred in the late spring. A quick Google search for "WinHEC 2009" yields this cached page of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, which includes a sign-up form for a WinHEC event in early May 2009. The form has since gone down, however.

The site heard WinHEC 2009 may take place later in 2009 and writes Windows 7 may be ready for launch by October 2009.