It looks like the rumored Windows 7 release date of October 22nd is becoming more believable by the day.

According to NeoWin, Microsoft is ready to declare Windows 7 “Gold Master” on July 10th barring any hiccups.  This means that computer manufacturers such as Dell will receive the software on July 13th and can begin prepping their new systems for release in the fall for the much needed holiday shopping season.

Anyone looking for a computer right now has a tough call to make.  You can either wait for Windows 7, or you may want to wait until Microsoft releases the first update to the operating system to correct the inevitable bugs that will be found in the system as more and more people use it in far more circumstance than could have been tested for.  Personally, I just bought one last Windows XP laptop on a heck of a sale from Dell.  I want to take a “wait and see” approach to what Microsoft finally puts out there in the marketplace.