Microsoft has made public the official consumer launch date for Windows Vista. Initial reports have been pointing out to January 30, 2007 as the deadline for the general availability of Microsoft's latest operating system, but the actual release date will be January 29. In this context, Microsoft will be returning to New York to celebrate the consumer launch of Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office System.

"On January 29th, Microsoft will celebrate the launch of two amazing products that represent the culmination of a tremendous team effort," informed Microsoft. "Millions of people --Microsoft employees, developers, valued customers, bloggers, families, media, the entire industry--have come together like never before and added their own individual imprints to help make Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office system the most tested products in Microsoft history."

For this event, the Redmond Company has lined up a lunch reception at Cipriani, a Manhattan banquet room. The reception will be followed by a launch celebration at 1515 Broadway in Times Square. Microsoft has revealed these in a media invitation sent out at the end of the past week. The "Wow Starts Now" is the event synonymous with the consumer launch of Vista.

"Our celebration is dedicated to the millions of people who helped transform the operating system into a rich experience that's more exciting and more powerful than ever before. Because of the immense personal contributions of so many, we hope you will help us celebrate a new digital lifestyle and a new era in personal computing," added Microsoft.

With Windows Vista and the 2007 Office System, Microsoft aims to impact an estimated 1.3 billion people. This figure is the sum of the current Windows and Office users worldwide. According to data from Microsoft, 854 million desktops run the Windows operating system, while Office has found its way onto 450 million systems.