Microsoft slip-up boasts Windows 8 is 'future of PCs'

Microsoft has moved quickly to remove a blog post from one of its employees detailing some of the features earmarked for the next version of Windows.

The unnamed employee posted an entry on the MSDN Blogs site at the end of last month entitled "What's in store for the next Windows", referring to "Windows.next" rather than Windows 8 and shedding light on some of Microsoft's internal development processes.

"The minimum that folks can take for granted is that the next version will be something completely different from what folks usually expect of Windows," the employee wrote.

"I am simply impressed with the process that Steven [Sinofsky head of Windows] has set up to listen to our customers needs and wants and get a team together than can make it happen," the post continued. "To actually bring together dozens and dozens of teams across Microsoft to come up with a vision for Windows.next is a process that is surreal!"

Regarding what the next version of Windows will be called, the blog deliberately steered clear of calling it Windows 8: "Until things are baked there is no point floating ideas since it leaves people frustrated when things don't turn out the way they expected."

It added: "So how am I referring to the next version of Windows without saying that many words well simple Windows.next."

While the blog steered clear of specifics, it did promise that regardless of what it ends up being called, the next version of Windows would be worth the wait: "The themes that have been floated truly reflect what people have been looking for years and it will change the way people think about PCs and the way they use them. It is the future of PCs."

However, Microsoft still felt compelled to step in and remove the post, though it can still be viewed in cache form. It's not clear whether any further steps will be taken.

The mystery blogger's enthusiasm was echoed recently by Microsoft regional vice-president John Mangelaars, who told CIO magazine that while Apple was "doing well on the PC side, Windows 7 is a blockbuster. We got it really right. For me, Windows 8 will be mind-blowing."

Depending on who you listen to, Windows 8 is pencilled in for release in 2011 or 2012.