For many of us who work closely with Microsoft, product launch dates are often a bit of a lottery (and a closely guarded secret) but Microsoft EMEA have taken it all a step further by running a competition to guess the launch date for Windows Vista!

1st Prize is to attend the Vista launch event in the USA: a full package with entry, flight and 3 nights in a 4-star hotel. 2nd–4th prize winners will each receive a new Xbox 360. 5th–10th prize winners will receive an Xbox core system.

I’ve gone for 8th December 2006, but also have a feeling that date might be a bit late in the Microsoft product launch season (apparently there was some marketing science behind why SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005 and BizTalk Server 2006 had to be launched in early November last year).

Find out more at the Windows Vista and Office “12” Beta Experience website.