Microsoft Corp. on Monday officially confirmed its intention to release the highly-anticipated next-generation Windows 7 operating system this year. Earlier the company did not make strong promises regarding release date, but Acer Group recently said that it would start shipping Windows 7-based computers on the 23^rd of October, 2009.

“Windows 7 is tracking well for holiday availability,” Bill Veghte, senior vice president of Microsoft's Windows business said at an event, reports Reuters news-agency.

Microsoft has been working hard to improve user interface as well as performance in Windows 7 and make the new OS much more user friendly overall. Many reviewers and early adopters agree that Microsoft has succeeded in improving its desktop OS dramatically. Microsoft Windows 7 will also bring numerous further improvements, including DirectX 11 application programming interface, as well as support for touch-based input.

Many computer makers as well as hardware designers expect the launch Windows 7 to catalyze end-users to buy new personal computers and spur sales of modern technology, which will boost revenues and profits of the tech sector that suffers from the global economic crisis.

Nevertheless, despite of the economic slowdown and negative attitude of consumers towards Windows Vista, Microsoft claims that its top priority for Windows 7 remains high quality of the operating system.

“Delivering the highest quality Windows 7 is the most important criteria for us at this point – quality in every dimension. The RTM process is designed to be deliberate and maintain the overall engineering integrity of the system.  Many are pushing us to release the product sooner rather than later, but our focus remains on a high quality release. Ultimately our partners will determine when their PCs are available in market.  If the feedback and telemetry on Windows 7 match our expectations then we will enter the final phases of the RTM process in about 3 months,” said the head of Microsoft's Windows business, Steven Sinofsky, in a blog post.

Tags: Microsoft, Windows