The rumors continue this week regarding when and what the next version of Windows will be.

This week we finally have word that the desktop and laptop versions might include the start menu that many of us miss. While some have adapted well to it, many of us long time users (you know, going back to DOS) have no interest in the dumbed down version designed for mobile on our desktop. I found that simply returning the start menu isn’t the perfect answer but it’s a good start, pardon the pun.

Also this Monday we have more rumors as to when it will release. Now there is some speculation that it will be September instead of October with the beta as soon as June. We assume that if the word is spreading about September that might be an RTM (release to manufacture) date, in other words that’s when you can first buy the operating system through a large company.

This release is a fairly big deal for Microsoft. We believe they plan to release a 7-inch tablet and we know for a fact that PC sales are down. Finally, recent reports show that Microsoft is in the 2% range of smartphone sales, a virtual tie with BlackBerry, the industry runt while Apple and Android basically compete for who has more shares of the remaining 96% of that market.

Stay tuned!