Windows 8 coming in 2012, Ballmer says

Confirms tablet edition

Windows 8 will be released some time next year Microsoft's motormouth CEO Steve Ballmer told a Microsoft Developer Forum in Tokyo yesterday.

He confirmed his outfit is preparing versions of the once-mighty 'operating system' for tablets and 'slates' as well as more traditional PC formats. "We are obviously hard at work on the next version of Windows," he burbled.

"As we look forward to the next generation of Windows systems, which will come out next year, there is a whole lot more coming. As we progress through the year, you ought to expect to hear a lot about Windows 8: Windows 8 slates, tablets, PCs – a variety of different form factors."

Ballmer was trumpeting Microsoft's current OS, Windows 7, which he thinks has made everyone forget his dog named Vista. "There's a whole lot more coming," he proclaimed.

Microsoft has already announced that ill week to port Windows 8 to ARM platforms, miffing old chums Intel in the process. Intel is taking a greater shine to Apple instead.