Given the elongated development time that's contributed to some of the woes Microsoft has been experiencing with Windows Vista, it's come of a something as a surprise that the firm could have the next iteration of its operating system available a great deal faster.

After earlier denying reports, Microsoft is now hinting that Windows 7 - although it'll inevitably be called something else by the time it arrives - is being targeted for release some three years after its predecessor. That, by our ropey maths, makes a release in 2010 the current objective.

The firm has played details on the next generation of its OS reasonably close to its chest, although tied into a range of price cuts for its Vista operating system, it does seem to be coming out fighting in its main area of business. Time will tell if it manages to hit its Windows deadlines this time round, though.