Monday, October 19, 2009

Windows 7 to salvage Vista 'train wreck'

Microsoft is scheduled to release Windows 7 to the world on Thursday as the US software giant tries to regain its stride after an embarrassing stumble with the previous generation operating system Vista.

"It's a big deal for Microsoft," analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley said of the Windows 7 launch. "Windows Vista was a train wreck."

While computer users may not give much thought to operating systems that serve as the brains of their machines, the programs are at the heart of Microsoft's global software empire. Microsoft operating systems run more than 90 percent of the computers on Earth. Importantly for Microsoft, versions of its popular programs such as Office, Outlook and Excel evolve to work better with successive Windows releases.

Vista's dismal reception in the market broke Microsoft's rhythm regarding hooking people on upgraded software. Computer users held firm to Windows XP, shunning much-maligned Vista. Microsoft apparently learned a lesson from Vista and worked closely with computer makers, users and software developers while crafting Windows 7.

More than eight million people have dabbled with Windows 7 since Microsoft began a beta test phase in January, according to Parri Munsell, director of consumer product management for the Windows client group. Early reviews praise Windows 7 for being everything Vista should have been.

Windows 7 features winning raves include enabling computers, television, radios, digital picture frames and other "smart" devices in homes to talk to each other. It also lets people use PCs to record television programmes and then watch shows "on demand" at any Internet-linked computer using Microsoft's Live service.

Touch-screen capabilities built into Windows 7 should give birth to monitors that further blur lines between television sets and PCs. Microsoft's primary objective with Windows 7 was to simplify the lives of PC users. This is going to be the next XP where it sticks around for a very long time.

Windows 7 works "surprisingly well" on netbooks laptop computers that have devoured market share in the recent grim economic times. A lot of corporations clinging to Windows XP are expected to upgrade to Windows 7, but after Microsoft's new Office 2010 suite of business applications is released next year.

The failure of Vista to catch on hurt Microsoft competitively, giving Apple the opportunity to woo PC users to Macintosh computers. Apple could benefit anew if PC users faced with switching operating systems go for Macintosh machines instead of Windows 7. Microsoft has been faulted in the past for lacking the type of marketing pizzazz for which longtime rival Apple is famous. Microsoft has devoted an ample budget to advertising Windows 7.

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