Windows 7 starts looming over Windows' Vista

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 28 January 2008 13:27

Opinion and Analysis

Microsoft famously missed the 2006 end-of-year shopping season with Vista, making do with ‘vouchers’ and Vista-ready stickers on computers instead, making many think that Microsoft wouldn’t want to miss such a lucrative shopping period again the next-time around.


But this pre-supposes that Microsoft can deliver Windows 7 on time. Given the years of delays with Windows Vista, it’s a valid question.

One area of interest with Windows 7 is the potential for embedding virtualisation technology right into the operating system. This could allow users to either access a pre-created XP or Vista compatible environment, potentially letting users bypass compatibility issues with drivers, software and hardware entirely.

As noted on the previous page, this is possible today with Vista using existing virtualisation technology, but building into the OS would make virtualisation much more pervasive among consumers than it is today.

But all of this is at the very least 18 months away, and probably longer. By the time the new version of Windows should arrive, Microsoft should have already released Vista SP2.

Windows 7 will likely follow the same path as Vista and XP before it. Problems with hardware and software, and steep hardware requirements.

Some will defend Vista, some will advocate moving to Windows 7 immediately, some will still be using XP. Some will say ‘Get a Mac’ and run Windows on it in conjunction with Mac OS X, while Linux is becoming a more formidable opponent to both Mac OS X and Windows than ever with every new release from various Linux companies.

Vista had a troubled pregnancy, a troubled birth and a troubled first year, but has more-or-less finally settled down into the OS it should have been at launch, and provides a better experience than Windows XP.

Windows 7 is still too far away to truly worry about, especially if you’ve only recently purchased a new computer. And won’t many people want to wait for an SP1 for Windows 7 first?

If you need a new computer now, while Windows XP is still a solid option for today’s computer users, and the only option for some, and while there is always the choice of a Mac or Linux, Vista is now more ready for prime time than ever.