“Microsoft introduced what it said would be a slimmer and more responsive version of its Windows operating system on Tuesday, while unceremoniously dropping the brand name Vista for the new product,” John Markoff reports for The New York Times.
“The new version will instead be branded Windows 7… The company did not say when it would sell Windows 7 to the public,” Markoff reports.
“After almost two years, Windows Vista is still getting a lackluster reception from consumers and facing a relentless marketing barrage from Apple,” Markoff reports.
“The problem was highlighted last week when Microsoft reported its financial results for the most recent quarter. Its Windows unit reported just a 2 percent rise in revenue against a 4 percent decline in operating income,” Markoff reports. “The computer industry viewed the setback as a shift of historic proportions. The company acknowledged last week that the mix of Windows sales in both mature and emerging markets had tipped more toward low-cost PCs, which come with lower-margin versions of Windows and often not Vista.”
“Steven Sinofsky, the Microsoft technologist who has led the development of the new version of Windows said that he had not taken particular offense at Apple’s ad campaign teasing the giant software developer. However, the laptop did have an ‘I’m a PC’ sticker on its cover, a reference to a recent series of ads Microsoft ran that were widely viewed as a somewhat belated response to Apple,” Markoff reports.
MacDailyNews Take: Yet another Microsoftie who doesn’t seem to understand that Macs can just as easily say “I’m a PC,” too – and faster:
• Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer doesn’t know that Macs can run Windows – October 06, 2008
• Microsoft’s $300m ad campaign doomed? ‘I’m a PC, too’ says Apple’s OS-unlimited Mac (with video) – September 23, 2008
• Apple debuts new ‘Get A Mac’ ad: Fastest Windows Vista notebook is an Apple Mac (with video) – December 04, 2007
• Apple MacBook Pro is world’s fastest Windows Vista notebook – October 30, 2007
• USA Today on switching: Apple Macs can also be screaming-fast Windows machines – March 15, 2007
Markoff continues, “He then demonstrated a “pre-beta” version of Windows, acknowledging that some features were still missing. The presentation focused generally on the more polished control features of Windows 7 including how on-screen notifications are handled, an issue that was an irritant for early Vista users who complained about the nannylike behavior of the software.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Dale,” “Spark,” “Chuck,” and “Joe” for the heads up.]
@Steve
They use ‘I’m a PC’ sticker on their computer so they don’t mistake it for a toaster
Ballmer is putting 7 out there for cash flow. Plain and simple.
It’ll keep the investors happy in the shorter term 2-3 years, until micoshaft can come up with something truly revolutionary (not!).
Well if you need a start button one presumes that it helps to know what it is you are starting. After all we all know how those big red buttons are so magnetic no matter how destructive the result of pushing it. Come to think of it shouldn’t they have one on that pc too.
I really dont understand Microsloth, does anyone?
1. They choose to have no naming scheme on the OS thats uniform . First it had a versionnumber (3.11) then it was years (95,98,2000) then it was something about how technologically advanced it was (NT) followed by the experience of what? ie (XP) followed by a visit to the shiniest store in hell (Vista) and now its a number again (7) thats been replaced by the name of a dry and unforgiving desert (Mojave)
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2. They set a name for theire “Cloud computing” idea after a cloudless sky
3. I forgot what I was going to write here
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” /> but I guess every question about the legitimity of Balmer on the board of M$ is a good question…
Only Microsoft could brand Windows NT 6.1 as “Windows 7”
In case there are those that would think ‘ICHW?’ has got some fuzzy (or furry, as the case may be) math going…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_nt
Windows 7 mmm… which should i get ?
home basic
home express
home premium
business express
business premium
or ULTIMATE with icing on top..
tough choice…
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This is truly innovative marketing on behalf of Micropenialsofties. Consider Apple is using real pussy to name their systems. Now there is a lot of pussy out there that could be named as an operating system, but numbers, wow, they are infinite.
Now 7 could be also used for the different versions of
Seven deadly sins version.
Seven swans a swimming version.
Seventh heaven version.
It’s a real coup for all that marketing money they are spending.
However, the laptop did have an ‘I’m a PC’ sticker on its cover
Just in case the bad design, worse OS, and non-Apple hardware didn’t tip us off…..
Hmm I’m surprised the laptop didn’t have a couple white Apple stickers as well, in true MS wannabe fashion.
BWAHAHAHAHA!
Once a Vista, always a Vista. Hilarious. I can’t wait to see the list of new ‘features’ in whatever this monstrosity is called. They have already added confusion by providing 4 (FOUR) different ways you can configure UAC, from Ultra annoyance, to Professional annoyance, to Home annoyance, to 3rd world annoyance. Heehee!
Gotta hand it to Apple for making maximum fun of this marketing moron meltdown with their BIG RED BUZZER BUTTON joke ad.
;-D
Cubert sez: “A pre-beta??? So, that’s a late alpha?”
Actually, MS sez it is a pre-alpha. I find it rather shocking that anyone would demonstrate something that isn’t even read for their in-house quality assurance testing. MS stated that many features are still not included.
The most utterly hilarious claim is that Windows 7ista may boot and run your computer from the Internet. Yeah, right. And what boots your computer so you can actually connect to the Internet? And what runs on the computer so you can actually configure your computer to know how or where to connect to the Internet. There is an extremely strong stench of hype and computer ignorance in the air. I think I’ll leave the room before I barf. Oops, too late.
:-Q************
Oh, and considering Microsoft’s record at following time lines for Windows release, we should see Windows 7ista in about 2012, just in time for the next presidential election. I think I’m gonna hurl again.
The most utterly hilarious claim is that Windows 7ista may boot and run your computer from the Internet. Yeah, right. And what boots your computer so you can actually connect to the Internet?
Good catch. Remember this IS Microsoft.
True story: Had to replace the modem on my family’s PC a couple years ago. Which required going online to download drivers to make the modem work. BRILLIANT!!!
Kinda like having to drive your car to the dealer when the keys get locked in it….
@priceless
Not if you had a ‘Microsoft Car’…
@onionhead
Recently, at my wife’s workplace (fully Windows), they had network and server issues so requested all users logout and turn off their PCs.
After the problems were resolved, they sent out an email telling users they could log in again…
I’m loving this beta of Windows 7 I’m running right now. It’s got some cool features, but I am not at liberty to tell you about them – NDA and all. But the main thing, is that it seems to be far more reli
So if “Vista” is now a dirty word and the next OS is called “Windows 7,” how long until M$ ruins that name for everyone (assuming they haven’t already). Windows 8 will have to be something completely different and distant — like the way Xbox doesn’t say it’s by Microsoft.
polish a turd its still a turd