SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – Microsoft’s much-heralded Windows 7 operating system made its global debut on Thursday. By the time the day was a minute old, Microsoft workers were handing out Windows 7 software as gifts at a party the US technology giant held at a San Francisco night club to coincide with a Web 2.0 Summit here.
“Now is the start; now we see if real people love Windows,” Microsoft general manager of Windows Live business group said on the eve of the launch. Feedback from millions of test users of Windows 7 has Microsoft confident they have hit the mark with the new-generation operating system, which reportedly logged more pre-orders in Britain than did the final Harry Potter book.
“This is the most customer excitement we’ve had in a long time for a Windows release,” Hall said.
Microsoft is also celebrating the availability of Windows 7 with parties and by opening its first retail shop in the US city of Scottsdale, Arizona. The shop features laptops, netbooks, personal computers, Zune players, Xbox 360 videogame consoles, and mobile phones running on Microsoft software. A second Microsoft store will open in Northern California next week.
“Our customers have told us they want choice, better value and great service when shopping for technology, and that is what we will deliver through our Microsoft stores,” said Microsoft corporate vice president of retail David Porter.
Microsoft hired Porter, a retail industry veteran, in February to open retail stores that challenge the successful chain of Apple Stores operated by the maker of iPhones, iPods, and Macintosh computers. The launch of Windows 7 is expected to open the flood gates for low-priced, feature-rich personal computers based on the operating system.
“We have great PCs (personal computers) coming out for Windows 7,” Hall said.
“For most people, Windows is a thing that runs their PC. So when they get a great PC at a great price that works with the other devices they have, that’s a win for Windows.”
Microsoft releases Windows 7 to the world as it 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. 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.
Source: www.yahoo.com
Microsoft Launches Windows 7 Operating System
Microsoft launched its Windows 7 operating system – the last version of Microsoft Windows for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PC and media center PCs.
Windows 7 was released to manufacturers on July 22, with general retail availability set for October 22, less than three years after the release predecessor, Windows Vista. Windows 7’s server counterpart; Windows Server 2008 R2, was released in parallel to the global product launch held recently.
Windows 7 is projected to be a more focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line, with the goal of being fully compatible with applications and hardware with which Windows Vista is already compatible. Manoji Samararatne, Marketing Director for Microsoft Sri Lanka said, “The introduction of Microsoft Windows 7, built fully around customer feedback, highlights Microsoft’s commitment towards our faithful customers and their requirements. Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest and most engaging version of Windows yet.”
Produced to the theme “Your PC Simplified”, users of Windows 7 will enjoy better ways to find and manage files, through the Jump Lists functions and improved taskbar previews, previews, bigger icons, pinning, and creative easy to personalize help the user to speed through everyday tasks. Added features like Windows Media Center and Windows Touch make are new features introduced to the customer. Windows 7 supports the latest advances in PC hardware, like 64-bit computing and multi-core processors, and improved memory utilization helps your hardware reach its full performance potential.
With Windows 7, consumers across the world will experience more simplicity, more choice, and more value than any launch of an OS. Improvements in the user interface, performance and reliability translate to a wider range of innovations on PCs that run Windows 7. The taskbar has seen the biggest visual changes, where the quick launch toolbar has bell replaced with pinning applications to the taskbar.
Source: Sunday observer – October 25, 2009 (Sri Lanka)
