p>Now that Microsoft has provided an official ship target for Windows 7, the next major version of Windows client, it’s time for some educated guess work.

Windows 7 is the only piece of the Windows client roadmap for which Microsoft is willing to provide a date right now. Here’s what I’d guess about the rest of the client roadmap:

• Update to Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack: Fall 2007
• Windows Vista SP1: November 2007
• Windows XP SP3: Late 2007/Early 2008
• Windows “Fijiâ€? (out-of-band update to Media Center functionality of Vista: Mid- to late 2008
• Another Update to Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack: 2009
• Windows 7: 2010

On the Windows server side, there’s less need for educated guesses, as the server team provided a futures roadmap at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference in May. On the server roadmap:

• Windows Server 2008: RTM in fall 2007 (I hear November)
• Windows Small Business Server “Cougarâ€?: 2008
• Windows Midmarket Server “Centroâ€?: 2008
• Windows Server 2008 R2: 2009
• Next major version of Windows Server: 2011

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