Windows 7 When? ArsTechnica Makes the Case for 2009 - and 2010

ArsTechnica's been looking at the tea leaves  in the Microsoft cup to try to figure out when Windows 7 will show up on retail shelves. There are lots of indicators that suggest late 2009: A posting at I Started Something notes  that the 2008 version of WinHEC (November 2008) will be the last WinHEC before Windows 7 ships (WinHEC is normally held in April or May). ZDNet's Ed Bott and others (including our own Pulkit Chandna ) note that ASUS is planning to put Windows 7 on its Eee PCs in the second half of 2009. Microsoft is distributing a pre-beta release of Windows 7 at next week's PDC, and a public beta is expected in December of this year. For some reasons to take a deep breath before betting on Windows 7 in 2009, and for your chance to comment, join us after the jump. read more (link)