Microsoft supremo Bill Gates, who has a legendary ability to jump through windows of opportunity when lesser mortals would hold brainstorming sessions about the thickness of the glass, has encountered an unaccustomed setback with the planned introduction of Windows 98, the successor to Windows 95. The upgraded version of windows should have been on the market this year but is now not expected to be ready until next summer. The ever-open window of marketing hype has turned into a more solid obstacle of consumer resistance to a product seemingly not entirely in tune with market demand.

Microsoft says delivery has been delayed because of "pretty consistent feedback " from customers and suppliers pressing for a single product that would upgrade both Windows 95 and the earlier Windows 3.1.The delay will reportedly cost Microsoft around £62 million in sales next year and has also lopped five per cent off the share price. This inconvenient marketing blip has trimmed £1.5 billion from the paper value of Bill's personal shareholding in Microsoft, the company he founded. William now has to get by on only £24.5 billion. Clearly some belt-tightening is required.