In the tech world, Christmas time is key to successful sales.

Failing to release Windows Vista by December 25, 2006 was a large setback for Microsoft, which afterwards watched in vain as consumers opted for the older XP instead. It's not clear if a Christmas release would have changed that for the likes of Vista, but holiday sales may have helped cement it as a 'must-have' for consumers.

That said, Microsoft will likely not make that same mistake again. The Redmond-based company has confirmed that Windows 7 will in fact be released in time for the holidays, and the move could help drive up excitement even more. Consumers worldwide are hoping that the software giant has ironed out the many issues that prevented Vista from living up to a mountain of hype.

Microsoft: "We're going for holiday..."

Bill Veghte, Microsoft's senior vice president for Windows Business, made the announcement in a well-attended keynote address at the company's TechEd conference in Los Angeles on Monday. "We're going for holiday and we're tracking very, very well for it," said Veghte.

Microsoft has remained very quiet on the ultimate release date for Windows 7, perhaps trying to keep the hype and the expectations in check after the January 2007 debacle that was Vista.

Even after the company released a near-final Release Candidate last week, it still refused to offer a finer explanation of its plans for the complete version of Windows 7. Most rumors suggested Windows 7 would be released later this year, but others felt the new OS might follow in the footsteps of its predecessor -- however, given Vista's infamy, it's understandable that Microsoft would push, and push hard, for a Christmas release. (Source: reuters.com)

Will Win7 Boost PC Sales?

The big payoff for Microsoft is expected to be in PC sales, since many consumers often look towards laptops and desktops when considering Christmas presents for friends and family.

Since Windows 7 has thus far received generally positive fanfare, a December release could lead to big sales for both Microsoft and computer retailers like Best Buy.

Microsoft's other big challenge will be winning over businesses, who for the most part couldn't care less if the new OS is released in December or February. However, Microsoft promises it has been working hard to meet the demands of beta testers, improving compatibility by working closely with third parties.

"This is something we spent huge, huge cycles on," Veghte insisted. "There should be no surprises." (Source: crn.com)