Windows 7 Was My Idea

With today’s launch of Windows 7, Microsoft is expanding the “I’m a PC” marketing campaign. And I have to say that it’s very effective. The “Windows 7 Was My Idea” commercial will start making the rounds starting today.

Take a look…

Windows 7 Review: XP vs Vista vs 7 in 80+ Benchmarks from Maximum PC by Will Smith

Maximum PC has a great comparison and review of Windows 7.  They go over a lot of the new features, and compare it to Windows XP and Vista.  As I have been saying, this is the OS that Vista should have been, even though Vista was not as bad as people led everyone to believe.  Check out the article here.

Use Windows 7 RC for a year

When Microsoft makes the already-leaked release candidate for Windows 7 available for everyone next Tuesday, May 5th, they're giving the software away for a year. Its expiration date is June 1, 2010, so you can play with the shiny, smooth, all-fixed, wonderful operating system from Microsoft for almost 13 months before you have to pony up. The real, shipping version will be available toward the end of this year (it could ship as early as October 23), but that pre-shipping test "release candidate" works so well, why buy the final version?

The stickier question is, how will all of us feel about paying for Windows 7 after using it free for more than a year? Studies show that it feels great to have something given to you for free, but it hurts a whole lot more (and it's a whole lot more memorable), when something is taken away from you. But then, Microsoft is probably willing to risk this conundrum, desperately wanting to shed the negative PR juju it built up with Vista.

If you've been testing out some of the various beta builds up until now, Microsoft recommends that you start from scratch with this release candidate, also known as build a 7100. However, if you don't feel like redoing everything on your PC, there is a workaround, and it's as easy as changing one number in one file, and then you can upgrade to the release candidate.

Don’t forget you can start downloading it tomorrow.

[Dvice via PC Pro]

Microsoft announces 6 SKU’s For Windows 7

Just when you thought Microsoft had learned from their mistakes and started to put together a solid OS in Windows 7, word comes that it will still be in several different flavors. Windows 7 had been getting a lot of PR love as of late and I have to say, after playing with it for a little while, I’m excited about it. It’s a solid OS, and I think Microsoft has finally created a true replacement for Windows XP. But to confuse customers with the same crap that they did with different versions of Vista is a mistake. Windows 7 should not come with more than 3 versions on release date, Windows 7 Home, Windows 7 Enterprise, and Windows 7 Ultimate. But word is out that Microsoft has at least 6 different SKU’s:

• Windows 7 Starter (limited to three apps concurrently)
• Windows 7 Home Basic (for emerging markets)
• Windows 7 Home Premium (adds Aero, Touch, Media Center)
• Windows 7 Professional (Remote Desktop host, Mobility Center, Presentation mode)
• Windows 7 Enterprise (volume license only, boot from virtual drive, BitLocker)
• Windows 7 Ultimate (limited availability, includes everything)

The average user doesn’t know if they need Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, or Professional. And don’t expect the monkeys at Best Buy to honestly point users in the right direction, as they’re concerned with their bottom line. I’ve overheard customers being told that they needed Ultimate when all the user was doing was surfing the internet and downloading music. Way to go Microsoft….. Keep em’ confused as ever.

[Engadget]

Rumor: Microsoft Looking To Launch Windows 7 By Holiday 2009

In what has truly signaled that Windows Vista has turned into 2008 speak for Windows ME, Microsoft has (mistakenly) leaked that they have a goal to ship their new OS Windows 7 by mid-2009. Word has that Microsoft plans to have Windows 7 pre-installed on most machines for the 2009 holiday season. So come this time next year, you could have your hands on the new Windows OS.

Not so sure that this is a good thing, but perhaps abandoning Vista’s negative stigma (deserved or not) might be the way to go for Microsoft.

[Crunchgear]

Video Of Windows 7 Multi-Touch

Video: Multi-Touch in Windows 7

With Windows Vista doing so well for Microsoft has turned it's focus on the next OS. Windows 7 is said to be released late next year, but knowing Microsoft's time table for OS release dates, I would not hold my breath.

It seems that they've taken a page out of Apple's book with the multi-touch, and they do state that hardware upgrades would not be required (yeah, right). I can't see how this could possibly work without some type of major hardware upgrade, but we'll see how they handle this.

[Crunchgear]

Windows 7 To Replace Vista By 2009?

Not sure if this means that Vista will become the Windows ME of this decade, but speculation is that Windows 7 will be released by mid-2009. This comes as a surprise to me because of the amount of time and money that was put into Vista. So once the bugs are worked out of Vista, there will be another OS that might be on the market.

Word is is that hardware manufacturers have already been given a early copy of the new OS, and the second and third builds are due out in Q2 and Q3. I would be surprised if it wasn't delayed, but even if it's a year, it would mark the first time that Mircosoft put out a new OS within 2 years time of each other.

Vista successor, Windows 7 to be released next year? [APC Magazine via Crunchgear]