Microsoft Windows Vista is officially going to be released on January 30th. Stores across the world will have midnight opening parties to start selling Windows Vista.

The first Australians Windows Vista fans already have it in their hands. Japan is next in a couple of minutes. AkihabaraNews reports that on one of the Vista Launch events idols Yuko Sakai, Tomoko Fukishima and Ayana Miura hand out Vista to luck Japanese customers.

In the U.S. Bill Gates is actually appearing tonight on the Daily Show (site) with Jon Stewart (11pm). John Hodgman (PC guy in the Apple ads) is supposed to be there too. That should be a must see Daily Show episode.

Microsoft will have a celebration today on Times Square in New York City.Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates will be there celebrating the worldwide launch of Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office System. There is a live Webcast today at 1:45 p.m. PST / 4:45 p.m. EST here. Amazon lists a limited edition Ultimate Windows Vista with Bill Gates' signature. No shipping date give.

Dell already takes orders of PCs and Notebooks running Windows Vista. Also Amazon.com takes orders for all Windows Vista versions.