OK, sorry, I've used that line before. But with so many Vista delays, a repeat became statistically inevitable. It seems perverse to wallow in the bad news by listing previous Windows release dates to illustrate the Vista void. But let's:

OS RELEASE (year)
Windows Vista 2007 (fingers crossed)
Windows XP 2001
Windows ME 2000
Windows 2000 2000
Windows 98 1998
Windows 95 1995
Windows NT 1993
Windows 3.1 1993
Windows 3.0 1990
Windows 2.0 1987
Windows 1.0 1985

Latest word from the Microsofties is that the OEM (new PC) and consumer versions of Vista won't be available until January 07, while the business version will be available for licensed upgraders from November. (See the Wire section of the April issue of PC World for more on the now confirmed Vista Home, Vista Business and Vista Enterprise editions, and their various permutations. The Media Centre Edition of Windows will be killed off as a standalone line, with its features folded into Vista Home).

The latest Mista-Vista is a boon for the likes of Google and the newly Intel-friendly Apple, of course, and a blow to PC makers or anybody else who was relying on Vista to give the sleepy market some kick this year. Worse, we've yet to see a killer Vista feature that will make the wait worthwhile.