Windows 7 Next Year?

With falling on its face, and the phenomena seeming to overwhelm even , Microsoft need a very strong and reliable successor to Vista. And what I have gathered from the Web, Windows 7 may turn out to be a LUCKY ONE for MS.

".....Vista is the most compatible version of Windows that Microsoft has ever shipped....."

Though Vista's Service Pack 1 is launched, the real impact wil take some time in manifesting itself. I think Vista faced much 'bad' publicity and overblown compatibility issues, the MAIN problem which I think was its complexity... (I had read somewhere that Vista's kernel was about 5000 files or so).
But things have stared turning out a bit better of late
Paul Thurrott (http://www.winsupersite.com) had concluded that

"...Vista is the most compatible version of Windows that Microsoft has ever shipped..."

See : http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_100days.asp

Also, I got Mandriva (A Linux Distro), and guess what the magazine said as an introduction??

".... With Vista-like looks and... blah-blah..Mandriva is a ... good option..."

And also personally, I am fed up of people lynching Vista from its birth via articles such as :

"THREE REASONS WHY VISTA SUNK LIE A ROCK"
"THE ELEVEN PILLARS OF FALIURE"

I think Vista was engulfed by prejudice more than anything else.

Now, going over from Vista to 7, if Microsoft can fulfil all, or atleast, some of the failed promises which it planned to offer with Vista, like WinFS...
And Windows 7 takes a bold step forward by NOT offering Backwasrd Compatibility... That means all you old goodies will not run on Windows 7. But then, there is the Virtualization support in Win7.
Another step forward, though troublesome in some respects, is the Multi-Touch LCD support which may not be mainstream for another 2 years or so. A 19″ touchscreen LCD monitor is not available for less than $699 at Newegg currently.

And also, for Win7 to succeed, it must learn from Vista's mistakes.
I have some words for guys @ MS :

1. Not more than 2 versions
2. Familiarity must be a key point... Just look back on Windows ME II...
3. Increasing usability by decreasing complexity
4. Keeping the OS fast and informative

Well... I'm over... I felt like I was writing Vista's obitu... Nah! Not Now... Maybe Vista is surviving out there...