After month and months of only saying that Windows7 is scheduled to arrive three years after the commercial launch of Vista - meaning around January 2010, Microsoft has today finally updated the release plan for its upcoming operating system. In a press release the Redmond company mentioned that Windows 7 "will be available to customers in time for the holiday shopping season," with Windows Server 2008 R2 set to come about around the same time.

"With early RC testing and extensive partner feedback we've received, Windows 7 is tracking well for holiday availability," said Bill Veghte, senior vice president of the Windows Business at Microsoft.

While Microsoft didn't provide an actual release date, the estimate might confirm a previous statement of Acer's Bobby Watkins which put Windows 7's availability for October 23rd. That's after the back to school period and a few weeks before this year's holiday shopping spree season. Mark it down and start the countdown.