Microsoft's mythical operating system looks set to remain a thing of legend. The oft-delayed Windows Vista is facing an epic setback, having been pushed back 18,000 years.

According to Manchester-based IT supplier Aria.co.uk, don't expect to run Redmond's new beast on your PC until 30 January, 20007.

The site says:

Don't hold out! Purchase Windows XP Professional edition after now and recieve a FREE* upgrade voucher for Microsoft's latest and long awaited Windows Vista Business Edition (release date January 30 20007).

Long awaited it certainly will be.

Vista has already been delayed by security bugs, anti-trust action, and the ire of other companies, and we can only speculate what's caused the latest multi-millennial mix-up.

But, obviously, the Vista voucher is to become a thing of family legend, passed lovingly down from generation to generation until the lucky descendent can substitute their inheritance for the shiny new system.

That, or its Microsoft's latest attempt at monopolising the future.

Go figure. ®

Bootnote

Thanks to reader Charlie Burgum for the timely tip.

Related stories

• Allchin backs away from Vista anti-virus claims (13 November 2006)
• Outlook takes 136 years to sync email (10 November 2006)
• January 30: Window Vista's date with destiny (8 November 2006)
• MS climbs down over Vista licensing (3 November 2006)
• Bug causes another delay to Vista (27 October 2006)
• EU denies Vista vendetta (19 September 2006)
• Microsoft rattles EC cage on Vista delay (7 September 2006)
• Gates 'glad' to delay Vista some more (12 July 2006)
• Windows Vista - not so clear after all (9 May 2006)
• Gartner: More Windows Vista delays (3 May 2006)
• Windows Vista slips to 2007 (22 March 2006)