Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates on Friday indicated that Windows 7, the next major version of Windows, could come within the next year or so. In response to a question about Windows Vista, Gates, speaking before the Inter-American Development Bank here, said: "Sometime in the next year or so we will have a new version." Referring to Windows 7, the code name for the next full release of Windows client software, Gates said: "I"m super-enthused about what it will do in lots of ways."
Unclear is whether Gates was referring to early testing of Windows 7 coming within the year, as opposed to a widespread release or debut. An early test geared toward developers would be conceivable.