Windows 7 will not be the only Microsoft operating system that will use Windows Vista as its foundation. Sure enough, Microsoft officially confirmed that the next iteration of the Windows client will feature evolutions of the Vista kernel, as well as the graphics and audio subsystem and overall architecture, featuring even similar hardware requirements. At the same time, Windows Codename Quebec will also be deeply rooted in Windows Vista. Windows Quebec is the next version of the Windows Embedded operating system.

According to Mary Jo Foley, Microsoft plans for the successor of Windows Embedded Standard 2009 to be based on Windows Vista. Windows Embedded Standard 2009 is designed as the next generation of Windows XP Embedded, and in this context XP-based, although it does feature components and technologies specific to Microsoft's latest Windows client. The Redmond company is already building Windows codename Quebec, even if it has yet to wrap up Windows Embedded Standard 2009.

A community technology preview of Windows Embedded Standard 2009 is already available for download, with Microsoft looking to deliver the final version by the end of 2008. The delivery deadline was announced as early as mid-April 2008, at the Embedded Systems Conference Silicon Valley 2008 in San Jose. Windows Embedded Standard 2009 already brings to the table a set of Vista-features including Internet Explorer 8, Windows Media Player 11, .NET Framework 3.5, Remote Desktop Protocol 6.1 and Network Access Protection (NAP).

But Windows Codename Quebec will take it one step further. Estimated to reach in excess of 300 MB, Windows Codename Quebec will come in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, complete with Windws Aero, Windows Firewall, Windows BitLocker Drive encryption, Windows Defender, Superfetch and ReadyBoost and ASLR. At this point in time, Quebec is reportedly planned for availability two years after Windows Embedded Standard 2009, namely in 2010.