This year is shaping up to be much of the same

The last 13 years have been insanely bad on Exit 77 of the Indiana Toll Road. LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) plans to let consumers test the next generation of its computer operating system, Windows 7, starting on Friday and said the new software is "absolutely on track." Technology MediaWall Street has identified the timely launch of retail sales of Windows 7 as one of the critical challenges for Microsoft this year, after Windows Vista debuted 12 to 15 months late in January 2007.Windows 7 is "absolutely on track," Robbie Bach, president of entertainment & devices at Microsoft, told Reuters in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Wednesday.He declined to give a specific release date beyond the beta testing on January 9, though he reiterated Microsoft's pledge to deliver Windows 7 around three years after Vista.According to Collins Stewart analyst Sandeep Aggarwal, the market expects Windows 7 to debut in November 2009. It promised more user-friendly features, such as a new taskbar that previews all open windows from a single application by hovering over the program's icon. Another new feature, "Jump Lists," provides updated lists of recently worked-on documents or oft-visited websites without first having to open Microsoft Word or an Internet browser.At CES, Microsoft also announced a series of new deals designed to show its ability to ride out the economic crisis that has hurt spending on personal computers.

Shares of Microsoft fell 6 percent on Wednesday after chip giant Intel Corp (INTC.O) alarmed tech investors by issuing yet another revenue warning.Bach said he expects Microsoft to emerge from the economy's troubles "a much stronger company.""The economy is going through a reset," Bach said. We are going to manage through that and come out the other end of that reset a much stronger company with a great product lineup."Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer is expected later on Wednesday to give details of the company's deal to provide mobile Internet search services to Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N), a contract that it won over rivals Google Inc (GOOG.O) and Yahoo Inc (YHOO.O).Bach also said Dell Inc (DELL.O) had agreed to put Windows Live an online hub for personal services ranging from e-mail, instant messaging, and photos to Web applications and links to social networking site such as Facebook and LinkedIn on all new Dell computers.Microsoft will also introduce a new "Halo Wars" video game for the XBox console in March, and an online game show channel on XBox Live, Bach said."You are going to see us continue to invest in technologies," he said. Microsoft has "tremendous optimism about where the market is going and what the opportunities are over the next five years."(To see blog posts from the Consumer Electronics Show, please visit MediaFile at blogs.reuters /mediafile. For other CES stories, see here)(Reporting by Franklin Paul, editing by Tiffany Wu, Richard Chang) Technology Media. Like most seasons, the NFC tends to provide for some questionable playoff teams from the regular seasons and some unlikely playoff runs.This year is shaping up to be much of the same.The two bulls in the Conference are the Saints and Vikings, and nobody comes close.

They have in essence been flawless while the Saints have countered some scares.The Cardinals seem locked to win another division title while the NFC East, is the NFC East.The Falcons at 5-5 are far from out of the race while the Packers despite their offensive line and a QB that perhaps holds on to the ball a little too much, are trucking along.And do not count out the 49ers just yet, with a relatively light remaining schedule with a gameagainst the 6-4 Eagles.Here is my prediction of the seedings and possible outcomes.No 1. SaintsThe Final Record- With the Monday Night matchup of the season, the Saints could drop to 10-1, or continue their quest for perfection. It probably is the nostalgia in me hungry for an undefeated team, but I do pick the Saints to finish 16-0, there are other factors involved in this, a big one being the 9-1 Vikings. 18-0 matchup in the Super Bowl, if of course your team is out of the Super Bowl picture already That I do not see happening, I expect a Vikings vs. Saints NFC Championship game and I expect Favre to make good. No 2. VikingsThe Final Record- Favre's late season statistical collapses precede him and while I don't expect what happened last year to repeat, I do not see the Vikings finishing 15-1, I see a 14-2 final record good enough for 2nd in the Conference.The Playoff Run- I may have ruined my prediction with the statement about the Saints, but such is life, I do pick the Vikings to get to the Super Bowl, but beyond that I save for another time. No 3.

CardinalsThe Final Record- No, the Cowboys won't implode, but they won't get the third overall seed, the Cardinals should finish no worse than 11-5.The Playoff Run- It's hard to see Warner pull another long run this year's playoffs, but it's far from impossible. Their poor record at home however makes me lean towards a Wild Card loss. No 4. EaglesThe Final record- Yes, I'm picking the Eagles to take the NFC East, and Iforesee a 10-6 final record.The Playoff Run- They will win at home and get to at least the Divisional round, I just don't see Super Bowl for McNabb, sadly yet again. There is big reason to pick McNabb to win at least one playoff game given he's never gone one and done. No 5.