Microsoft has announced, to the surprise of virtually no one, that Office 2007 will be delayed again, based on performance concerns with its latest betas. Funny, since my colleague Tom Merritt reported that he couldn't get the last, Web-based beta to load at all. I guess that's a performance concern of sorts. The new office suite will now launch...well, sometime later. Microsoft tells News.com it's hoping for "broad availability" in early 2007, though "feedback on quality and performance will ultimately determine the exact dates." Analysts responded to the delay with dismay, saying (I'm paraphrasing here), "Wow, those guys are seriously screwed up over there." Will the delays affect Vista? Microsoft hasn't said anything specific, which I take to mean "almost certainly."

• Read also: Buzz
• Email to a friend | Print this post