WinVistaClub: Q. What is the expected timeline for the availability of Windows 7? Microsoft: A. We are currently in the planning stages for Windows 7 and expect it will take approximately 3 years to develop. The specific release date will be determined once the company meets its quality bar for release. ...So they gave us two different answers. First they say 3 years. Assuming that they have been working on it for a year already, we still have another two years. The second answer is that it must pass Microsoft's quality standards; it is already more stable than vista was when it was released...so it is already up to microsoft's very low quality standards. By this logic, it should be out in stores by the end of the year if not sooner. As of yet, I have not seen any official release dates. Also remember: even microsoft says that windows 7 is little more than a add-on for vista...just more waistful stuff to turn off, dissable, and remove with registry hacks.
The RC is supposedly coming on April 10, 2009 with the RTM coming in august or september... I personally can't wait.