Will Windows 7 makes us forget about Vista?

For years, Microsoft consistently improved their home operating systems in order to give us consumers reliable and easy-to-use software... and then Windows Vista happened.

Suddenly, our worlds were turned upside down as Microsoft unleashed a bug-ridden and generally poor OS upon us. As a result, many turned to Macs and Linux-based operating systems, who embraced them with open arms. Now Microsoft are hoping to win us back with Windows 7... but will it work?

Initial reports would seem to suggest so, as Windows 7 has become the biggest-grossing pre-order in Amazon's history - worth even more than the most recent JK Rowling book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

New features

Positive reviews have also helped with many newspapers and expert magazines generating a buzz around the platform's launch. The new system promises a host of upgrades and improvements such as a more streamlined interface, better performance, and reduced power requirements, which means laptops with better battery life.

There will also be support for those with touch-screen displays, a technology that Microsoft is hoping will spread to all computers, spurred by the sale surge of touch-screen smart phones.

Despite all of this though, it is a matter of pride for Microsoft that Windows 7 is a success. Hurt by the reaction to Vista and the subsequent poor sales, Microsoft have seen more and more people opt to use Macs over their PCs, despite still maintaining a 90 percent share of the home computer market. However, they are not taking any chances this time.

Driving interest

The company has pumped millions of dollars into an advertising campaign and other initiatives aimed at boosting sales and awareness, including a half-hour TV written by Family Guy creator Seth Macfarlane. Microsoft has even announced plans to open its own chain of branded shops to help push sales of Windows 7 and other products, mirroring the move that has helped Apple increase their market hold in recent years.

However, if pre-order sales figures are to be believed, they may not need them. Already, it appears that Windows 7 might be an unqualified success, but time will tell whether it remains so, or whether it is cast aside as another Microsoft misfire.

 

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