AfterTek

Having been plagued with several development delays, Windows Vista is at the forefront of a new product cycle at the largest software maker in the world, that includes a new version of its Office business software suite.

Jim Allchin, co-president of Microsoft’s platforms and services division, said it expects consumers to make a “fast and immediate” switch to the new Windows.

“On January 30, you will be hard pressed to find a machine that doesn’t have Windows Vista available,” said Allchin in a conference call with reporters and analysts.

In the first year of release, Vista will be installed on more than 100 million computers worldwide, according to research firm IDC. Windows already sits on more than 90 per cent of the world’s computers.

Microsoft also said it will put Vista in the hands of large volume business customers on or before November 30 when it will hold a ceremony in New York to mark the availability of Vista, Office 2007 and 2007 Exchange e-mail server.

Allchin, who will retire from Microsoft after Vista ships, said business customers will be drawn to the improvements in performance, reliability and security.

“In my opinion, it is the most secure system that is available and it’s certainly the most secure system that we’ve ever shipped,” said Allchin.

Microsoft originally targeted a 2005 launch for Vista, then pushed the release out to 2006 before announcing in March that Vista would again be delayed. There was also speculation among analysts that Microsoft would have a hard time meeting its early 2007 target.