Gartner claims Vista delay even longer

The delays for Windows Vista aren't over, according to the Gartner Group. The research and advisory company believes (subscription) that the real release will occur closer to the second quarter of the next calendar year, that is, between April and June. They argue that there will be at least a nine-month lead time between the release of "Beta 2" and the golden master of the OS. The company claims that the level of technological change in Vista is so great that the shorter five-month window between the release of Windows XP and its last major beta cannot serve as guidance for Vista's own final release. Instead, they point to Windows 2000 as a better example, given its 16-month gestation from final beta to release. Nevertheless, Gartner believes that the delay is ultimately minor.