Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates demonstrated some features of the next version of Windows, version 7, at the All things Digital conference. Some very cool looking features like multitouch that seem somewhat tuned to compete with some Apple features, not that there is anything intrinsically wrong with this.

Seriously though, does anyone really trust any future features announcements from Microsoft anymore? Previously released versions of Windows desktop and server have dropped promised features before release. While Microsoft is no worse than a lot of other tech companies, the hype that often precedes release of new products so often does not live up in reality.

Windows 7 is projected to be available in something like 2010, so I might just wait a while and see what makes RC1 before I pin my hopes on any particular feature. A suggestion to the dev team though, why not spend less time on flashy new features and look at improving the ones that are already there. I would especially love to see something with essentially the same features and functionality of XP which gives me better speed at a smaller code base. A new network stack might not be as 'sexy' as a multitouch interface, but those are the things that are more important.