Microsoft strips final veil from Windows 7

Beverley Head
Thursday, 22 October 2009 11:34

IT Industry - Development

With 8 million beta copies of Windows 7 downloaded pre-launch, there were few surprises left when Microsoft stripped the final veil from its new operating system in Sydney today, leaving the biggest “oohs and aahs” for a yet-to-be launched Dell notebook.

In a relatively low key launch – more Quakers’ meeting that the software giant’s traditional big-tent revivalist approach – Microsoft unveiled what managing director Tracey Fellows described as “the PC simplified.”  Joined by a slew of hardware vendors keen to display their Windows 7 wares, Dell’s wafer thin Adamo XPS drew the most audience interest although ANZ retail and telecommunications sales director, Matthew Telfer ignored audience requests to turn the machine on.

He later told iTWire that the machine, which looks no larger than an aluminium encased sheet of A4 paper, was a working device rather than a concept product, although refused to provide any specifications such as weight, size or price, saying only that “it will be released in the future.” He did however confirm that the machine had been designed for Windows 7.

And according to Tracey Fellows; “What you will see about Windows 7 is that it works.” Whether that means that Microsoft is finally admitting Vista didn’t is moot.

What is undeniable is that Vista’s lacklustre reputation did prompt many enterprise customers to stretch out the lives of their workhorse XP based machines rather than make the switch to the new operating system. A decent number of consumers also retrofitted XP onto their PCs rather than stick with Vista.

Now Microsoft and hardware makers are hoping that a slew of new machines designed with Windows 7 in mind will see corporations and Governments open their wallets, and also encourage consumers to buy new PCs in the run up to Christmas.

continued page 2