Hearing this news reported by Engadget only ads more credibility to the notion that Windows Vista is the new Windows Me. Engadget say that Bill Gates told investors that Windows 7 will come "in the next year" and that he's "super-enthused" about it.

The article is a little light on details - like where they sourced the information for example. But if that is true, we should start seeing a beta very soon unless Gates meant the beta will arrive in the next year. In any event it still an awfully short time between Windows versions, and if I am not mistaken it will be the shortest in Microsoft's history (I'm not 100% certain on that).