Skip the navigation
News Analysis

Microsoft's reputation, future riding on Windows 7

'Most important release ever,' argues one analyst, as experts ponder Windows 7's chances

By Gregg Keizer
October 22, 2009 06:53 AM ET

Computerworld - Microsoft's standing as an operating system developer is on the line today as the company launches Windows 7, according to analysts and other experts.

"There's a reputation issue at stake here," said Michael Silver, Gartner's primary Microsoft analyst. "Apple has been making fun of them, and Microsoft wants to put an end to that, and all the talk about Vista. Microsoft wants to make clear that customers shouldn't lose faith that they're able to put out an operating system."

"A tremendous amount is at stake," agreed Preston Gralla, a long-time Windows watcher who has extensively reviewed Windows 7 for Computerworld. "Vista was so poorly received. Windows 7 will show if they can do operating systems right, or if they've finally lost it, especially since [Bill] Gates hasn't been around for years. The question is, does Microsoft still have it?"

Gates stepped down 10 years ago as the CEO of the company he co-founded, then left the firm in mid-2008 to devote more time to the charitable foundation that bears the names of Gates and his wife, Melinda. Windows 7, then, is Microsoft's first post-Gates Windows.

Microsoft finds itself in a position of vulnerability three years after the introduction of Vista because of its failure to convince users to upgrade from the even-then-aged Windows XP. After several delays that sent it scrambling to get out Vista, Microsoft found the operating system panned by reviewers and left in the lurch by OEMs, who initially failed to deliver reliable drivers and tried to sell underpowered PCs that didn't have the horsepower to run the operating system.

The company's critics and competitors -- particularly Apple -- took advantage of the misstep to bash the Windows ecosystem, ridicule its vulnerability to hacker exploits and claim that Microsoft had dropped the ball for the first time since 2000, when it released the also-dismissed Windows Millennium.

"For Microsoft, Windows 7 is the most important release of Windows, ever," said Silver, "because Vista was, by far, the worst release of its flagship product."

Everyone from home users and corporate administrators to bloggers and analysts questioned Microsoft's ability to deliver a reliable, desirable operating system. Was Vista a one-off failure, or the first in what could be a string of disasters that would weaken its grip on the operating system market?

"This is an interesting position for Microsoft," said Allan Krans, an analyst at Technology Business Research. "It's a critical release for Microsoft because Windows is their traditional core business. That's where they've made billions over the last 30 years."

But 2009 is not 2006. People now spend most of their computing time on the Internet, where the browser is the interface, not the operating system they equate with the computer. That's making some wonder whether a desktop operating system matters, or if it does, whether it matters as much as it used to.



Additional Resources
Forrester Consulting - Optimizing Users and Applications in a Mobile World
WHITE PAPER
Solving application issues over the WAN requires careful consideration. Based on their independent research, Forrester Consulting offers recommendations on how to tackle application performance issues, insufficient bandwidth and the inability to quickly restore users in a disaster.

Read now.

Security KnowledgeVault
WHITE PAPER
Security is not an option. This KnowledgeVault Series offers professional advice how to be proactive in the fight against cybercrimes and multi-layered security threats; how to adopt a holistic approach to protecting and managing data; and how to hire a qualified security assessor. Make security your Number 1 priority.

Read now.

Cut Communications Costs Once and for All
WHITE PAPER
New IP-based communications systems are being deployed by small and midsized businesses at a rapid rate. Learn how these organizations are enabling faster responsiveness, creating better customer experiences, speeding office or mobile interactions, and dramatically reducing existing communications costs.

Read now.

Windows White Papers
VMware View Optimization Guide for Windows 7
This document provides guidelines for configuring a standard Windows 7 image to be used within a VMware View™ environment, providing administrators with the...
Microsoft Volume Licensing Comparison - Small/Med. Business
This quick-reference document lets small and medium organizations (i.e. those with five or more devices) to easily compare the available Microsoft Volume Licensing...
Microsoft Volume Licensing Comparison - Enterprise
With this quick-reference document, you can easily compare the available Microsoft Volume Licensing programs for enterprise organizations with 250+ devices, and tailor a...
Microsoft Open Value Program Guide
In this overview, see how Microsoft Open Value provides a flexible, affordable way for small to midsize organizations (i.e. those with five or...
HP Software Licensing & Management Solutions for Microsoft
See how HP Software Licensing & Management Solutions (SLMS) can help you identify the best Microsoft licensing program for your needs, get the...
All Windows White Papers
Windows Webcasts
Optimizing Networks for the Cloud
Join guest speaker, Rohit Mehra, IDC Director of Enterprise Communications Infrastructure, to explore current trends, discuss best practices for optimizing Data Center and...
Apps QuickStart Series Part 2: Designing and Deploying SQL Server on VMware vSphere
Download this webcast to learn about the design considerations for virtualizing SQL workloads, performance and scalability information and high-availability options, as well as...
Apps QuickStart Series Part 1: Designing and Deploying Exchange 2010 on VMware vSphere
Download this webcast to learn the virtual hardware design considerations for Exchange 2010, deployment using the building block approach, options for high-availability and...
Customer Spotlight: How IPC The Hospitalist Company Implemented Oracle on VMware
Have you been looking to hear about customer's experiences with the new VMware vCenter Site Recovery Manager product? View this webcast to learn...
Virtualize Business-Critical Applications with Confidence
Virtualizing business-critical applications has become a key focus for organizations as they move along their virtualization journey. With the launch of VMware vSphere®...
All Windows Webcasts
Newsletter Sign-Up

Receive the latest news test, reviews and trends on your favorite technology topics

Choose a newsletter
  1. View all newsletters | Privacy Policy
IT Jobs