Microsoft is going head over heels in order to convince customers that the road to Windows 7 is paved with nothing but "good" Windows Vista(s). Actually, it's paved with Windows Vista Service Pack 1, and for enterprises making use of downgrade rights, Windows XP Service Pack 3, although Vista's predecessor does a perfect job of getting by mentioned less and less, through no fault of its own. Sticking with Windows XP, even with SP3, and not making the jump to Windows Vista is just not an option in Microsoft's perspective, even though the last time that any company representative talked about the Windows 7 delivery deadline (CEO Steve Ballmer) pointed to as close as the end of 2009.

With SP1, the Redmond giant has indeed taken Vista performance, compatibility, reliability and stability to the next level. Windows 7 will simply be a major step forward in the evolution from Vista to Windows 8. "Windows 7 will be built on the same foundation, particularly on a compatibility front, so any investment you make in Windows Vista will serve you extremely well when the next release of Windows comes out," promised Kevin Turner, chief operating officer, Microsoft, on July 10, 2008, the closing day of the company's Worldwide Partner Conference 2008 in Houston, Texas.

But Turner simply reiterated what Brad Brooks, corporate vice president, Windows Consumer Product Marketing, had stated from July 8, 2008, day one of Microsoft's partner-centric event. Brooks' conclusion on Tuesday was "remember that making the investments now with Windows Vista puts you in a great place for where we're going next with Windows and Windows 7".

Brooks' emphasis, however, is by no means limited to Windows 7. The Corporate VP of Windows Consumer Product Marketing is, in fact, looking beyond Vista's successor. And following Windows 7 to the market will be Windows 8, which, taking into consideration a two to three year development timeframe, could hit in 2011 - 2012.

Now, Window 8 is already half confirmed by Microsoft through the simple practice of using product numbers instead of codenames introduced to the Windows project by Steven Sinofsky, Senior Vice President, Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group. Just as Windows 7 is the next major iteration of Windows, coming with a new version of the Windows kernel, so will Windows 8 be Windows Next.

Vista has without the shadow of a doubt hit a consistent amount of speed bumps following its introduction. And SP1 is simply not sufficient in itself to dispelling the aura of negative perception of the RTM build of the latest Windows client. This is why over a year and a half following the availability of Vista, Microsoft is reduced to inaugurating the Windows Vista Small Business Assurance Program offering "free support, compatibility assistance, and one-on-one coaching" to ensure that customers give up XP.

In addition, the company is also going to debut the Windows Vista Compatibility Center, with the promise that "the Windows Vista Compatibility Center will provide information on more than 9,000 products. Of those products, there will be about 5,500 devices and 3,500 software programs. There will be continual updates and additions to ensure accuracy".

Windows 7, having Vista at its foundation, will already have gone through the worst. While Vista has taken all the heavy barrage of fire, Windows 7 is in this context guaranteed nothing more than a walk in the park. At least, this is what Microsoft is anticipating.