Windows 7 For Christmas ’09?

If you're planning on a new PC for Christmas 2009, it looks as if it will come with Windows 7.

Although it’s not being specific, Microsoft has all but confirmed that it will be shipping its eagerly-awaited new OS, Windows 7, in time for the holiday season next year.

At the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference on Thursday, while offering a presentation on the Vista Velocity program, Microsoft director Doug Howe said the company would continue the program with 7.

The presentation appeared to confirm what’s become widespread speculation – that the company would ship Windows 7 to take advantage of holiday season buying next year, something it’s rumored to have already told partners. However, it’s held off from a public declaration to avoid the kind of embarrassing delays that dogged the release of Vista.

But Howe told CNET that "definitely the holiday focus is going to be on 7."