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Story URL: http://software.silicon.com/os/0,39024651,39373295,00.htm

Windows 7: Not definite for Christmas 2009
And exec talks headcount "efficiencies"

By Ina Fried

Published: Thursday 08 January 2009

Windows executive Bill Veghte has said the company is telling PC makers Windows 7 is not a definite for Christmas this year.

Veghte told silicon.com sister site CNET News in an interview Wednesday: "I'm telling [makers] that it could go either way [whether Windows 7 will be ready or not]. We will ship it when the quality is right, and earlier is always better, but not at the cost of ecosystem support and not at the cost of quality."

Veghte also said the economy is factoring into his marketing plans for Windows, which is in the middle of an advertising push initially estimated at several hundred million dollars over several years.

"Given the economic situation, as shareholders would expect us to tighten our belt, but with the things that are most important, and customers would expect us to do that while continuing to innovate," he said. "The expectation is that the dollar we spend on advertising today will go further than it did in July...and the Windows business is pretty core to Microsoft, it's core to the Microsoft brand, so we will continue to invest in support of Windows."

Asked whether he thought the same applied to the unit's staffing level, he said "Windows is core to the success of the company" but added he's "certainly looking at how we can be more efficient… efficient in where we apply our headcount… but not at the risk of jeopardising the opportunity that we have."