It seems hard to believe this is happening again, but since the statement comes from Microsoft's CEO, we should expect a new delay for the OS from Redmond.

While Bill Gates was announcing in Seattle, during the WinHec event, three new beta 2 versions, which included one for Windows Vista, in Tokyo Steve Ballmer was playing the same old "We're delaying the OS" record.

"We think we are on track for shipping early in the year. We've talked about the month, but we get a chance to critically assess all of the feedback we'll get from this beta release then confirm or move [the launch date] a few weeks," Martyn Williams of IDG News Service quoted Ballmer as saying.

Aside from the feedback mentioned above, Microsoft's CEO said that the hardware partners could also influence the final release date.

"The other thing, frankly, which we are discussing with NEC and other hardware partners is when would they really like it, early January, late January, February, so it depends on when the next roll-over, the next turn of the machine cycle will be and that would be the best time to ship it based on beta feedback," he added.

Unfortunately, Ballmer didn't mention the maximum number of weeks users should expect for Vista, the OS with the most numerous delays in the history of IT.