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Windows 7 is ready, says Microsoft

AP

Microsoft says Windows 7 is complete. The software maker sent the final code for its next computer operating system to manufacturers, and said it's still on track for an 22 October launch.

Mike Angiulo, a general manager in the Windows group, said in an interview that getting up and running on a Windows computer will be "a lot smoother" than it was when Windows Vista launched in 2007.

At the time, Microsoft boasted about the number of programs and devices that would work with Vista, but many PC users found their existing software, printers, scanners, cameras and other hardware didn't function after the switch.

Microsoft said one reason Windows 7 should be an easier launch is that at its core, the new version is a lot like Vista.

If a company updated a product to work with Vista in the last few years, it should also work with Windows 7.

Windows 7 has also progressed in an orderly way, which means outside companies have had more time to make sure their products will work.

Vista was plagued by changes to Microsoft's plans, leaving partner companies scrambling to keep up.

The new operating system will launch into a much tougher climate than Vista did.

PC shipments are expected to fall this year for the first time since 2001, as the economic crisis has forced businesses to slash technology spending.

Microsoft built in a way for companies to run older, Windows XP programs in Windows 7, in an attempt to avoid losing those corporate customers that skipped Vista altogether because critical software wasn't compatible.

Companies that have long-term agreements to buy Microsoft software in bulk will be able to download and start installing Windows 7 in a few weeks, Microsoft said.

Then starting 22 October, Windows 7 will come on new PCs, and will be available for people to buy separately and install on their existing machines.

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(no subject) - [info]thomas_66 - Thursday, 23 July 2009 at 10:17 am (UTC) Expand
I'll leave for a few months
[info]mummygab wrote:
Thursday, 23 July 2009 at 12:11 pm (UTC)
I've found that new updates are often littered with minor problems that's not really fully resolved for several months. I know someone who's had problems viewing the most innocent of web site on IE7 (not flashy ones) and actually uninstalled IE7 to go back to IE6. I'll wait at least 6 months I think. There's no rush.
Vista Blisters
[info]popskihaynes wrote:
Thursday, 23 July 2009 at 12:12 pm (UTC)
When it first launched Vista was the most awful O/S I have ever seen but I have a number of PCs on my home network and although it took over a year, to be fair to Microsoft, they did keep patching until Vista works well and today as well as good old XP.

I have always tried to avoid Beta testing but gave 7 a go and then installed the 7 RC, it is a truly excellent product and clearly what Vista should have been in the first place. It seems to run on pretty much any PC from the past 4 years so unlike previous new versions of Windows, it doesn't require a new processor and chipset to run on.

Of course, that might just be that for the moment, basic hardware development seems to have plateaued and therefore what we have now in terms of basic PCs, are good enough. A friend of mine put a copy of Win 7 on a netbook and it works fine.

As thomas_66 wrote, for the moment the RC client is still available to download and if of interest, worth doing but, it is a "clean install" not an upgrade. Apart from backing up your data and saving it off your PC plus, re-installing your applications afterwards, it is a good automated install.

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