Posted on 08/22/2010 9:53:41 AM PDT by JoeProBono
Last year at this time, Microsoft was in the final stages of preparing Windows 7 for its worldwide launch. The new OS was finally available to the public—well, at least that segment of the public with a TechNet or MSDN subscription. Those early adopters had to wait a few weeks after the official release to manufacturing date but still got a head start on the general public.
Those demanding and skeptical Windows users have now had a full year to stress-test Windows 7 and decide whether it’s good enough to replace Windows XP.
The verdict? Windows 7 has been a quiet success, maybe even a phenomenon. Last spring, a Microsoft executive told me that the company had sold 100 million Windows 7 licenses. As part of its quarterly earnings call in July, Microsoft announced that that number had risen to 175 million, and the company has projected that a total of 350 million Windows 7 licenses will have been sold by the end of this year. That’s a run rate of roughly 30 million copies per month worldwide, and it represents a lot of Windows 7-powered PCs.
Despite the big numbers, Microsoft has been almost eerily silent about its success. I didn’t hear a lot of bragging in advance of the Windows 7 launch, nor has there been much chest-thumping since.
The competition has been muted as well. When was the last time you saw one of Apple’s infamous “Get a Mac” ads? Hint: the last three ads in Apple’s campaign were released on October 23, 2009, the day after Windows 7 was launched to the public. With titles like Broken Promises and PC News, Apple’s marketing executives were hoping for a Vista-style wave of complaints, but they were as disappointed as Windows 7 upgraders were relieved. And then John Hodgman and Justin Long went off to spend more time with their families.
Meanwhile, Windows 7 keeps selling and XP usage is dropping. That’s certainly true at this site, where Windows 7 visitors now outnumber those using Windows XP and Vista usage has plunged in the past year. Here’s a graphic representation of how Windows 7 usage has increased among visitors to this site since its first beta release back in January 2009.
Except I had to upgrade from home to professional to run some of my old programs...another 100 bucks...
I upgraded the week it came out.
I installed it on a fast SSD drive.
I’m very happy with it.
I am so annoyed. I have a software vendor who has failed to make their software compatible with 7 so I’m stuck scrounging copies of XP for my AD domain.
No drivers for a current-production HP printer, no drivers for a current-vintage flatbed scanner, many programs do not run...yeah it’s a HIT alright....hit me in the jewels and wallet in one smack.
FReepmail
bwahaha....that was funny man; sorry for your pain however..
Upgraded from Vista to Win7 Home Premium about 8 months ago. I have NEVER had it crash, and all my devices and programs run well with it. I bought this comp pre-loaded with Vista and it works even better with the new OS!
Got it at the ‘employee discount’ price from a friend of mine who works at Microsoft and goes to our church. Perfectly alright as long as I don’t try to re-sell or pirate it.
That’s HP’s fault. I have been so disgusted with HP and their lack of support in keeping up with the drivers—printers, in particular—over the last 5-8 years, that I threaten them that I will buy Brother (which are good, btw)or competing products when they try nail me with a charge for tech support for failed products, and they cave. I mean printers, they built a great reputation years ago for having the best printers, but no mas. Jus sayin...
I've used AVG virus protection the last couple of years. No issues. Would appreciate opinions.
Also will look at a MAC.
In either case will get a fed gov employees discount.
Funny, I don’t see Windows 7 on my computer. XP still there and quite happy with it.
I've already determined that I can't use either one with Windows 7.
There is no way I can keep up!
I liked XP, I had no problems with it.
Which programs are you having trouble with?
Running since October 22, 2009 at about 11 a.m., one hour after it was released. ZERO crashes since.
Music score editing program, software that came with HP printer for the scan function (multi-function printer), CD/DVD label print option, ACER scanner driver, others. Found the same thing from HP that someone else mentioned - they want to charge ME to fix THEIR problems with Windows 7. They know full well some of their current-production stuff does not work on Windows 7 as a “known bug”. I also continue to have issues with PCTOOLS whereby the Windows Firewall fights with the PCTOOLS firewall even though the Windows firewall is shut off. Windows constantly reports that I do not have an Anti-Virus, asks me if I want to turn on PCTOOLS (which is running), then can’t “start” it.
Had the same issues with Outlook Express (not available on Windows 7) which I used to coordinate 3 email accounts flawlessly. Settled on Thunderbird since the Windows 7 replacement for Outlook Express sucked.
Under no circumstance buy an HP laptop. Statistically they are the absolute worst in terms of reliability.
At this time, you’d be better off with one of Toshiba’s current laptop models.
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