While the first Beta taste of Windows 7 is planned for the end of 2008, the gold build of Windows Vista's successor is expected to have a general availability date set for 2009. Officially, Microsoft is sticking to its “by January 30 2010” or “three years after the general availability of Vista” release date for Windows 7, and offering nothing palpable on the matter. However, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) indicated that the next iteration of the Windows client is right on track to drop in 2009. At the Cutting-edge IT & Electronics Comprehensive Exhibition (CEATEC) Japan 2008, AMD revealed that 2009 and not 2010 would mark the availability of Windows 7.

The image included in this article features a slide-show from an AMD presentation at CEATEC 2008, courtesy of PC Watch (translation). Under the headline “What to Expect in 2009” AMD lists Windows 7 and DirectX 11, along with the transition to 40 nm technology, OpenCL, the “widespread use of GDDR5, consumer applications for GPGPU, HD+ televisions, digital walls, increased availability of 3D stereoscopic displays, growth of multi-touch and other input technologies.

Of course that AMD only “expects” Windows 7 and DirectX 11 to be available in 2009, and this position is by no means synonymous with an official confirmation. Still, this is not the first time when 2009 is indicated as the year when Windows 7 would hit the shelves. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates noted as early as April 2008 that Vista's successor would be launched sometime by the end of the next year. In addition, leaked details from Microsoft's internal calendar point to a June 3, 2009 release for Windows 7.

A 2009 availability date for Windows 7, especially one ahead of the holiday season, makes all the sense in the world for Microsoft, also taking into consideration the company's strategy to stay away from the mistakes made with Windows Vista. Until this point in time, the Redmond giant managed to confirm officially only the pre-Beta build of Windows 7 for the end of this month, come the Professional Developers Conference in Las Vegas, October 27-30.