Can Windows 7 end the (IT) recession?
The whole world is still locked into a recession right now, and one of the sectors hit for consumer spending is technology. But there could be a savior on the horizon, and it’s probably not the one most people would have pictured. That’s right folks, Microsoft is about to save us by releasing Windows 7, an OS that could potentially persuade us all to spend once more.
There’s a definite difference of opinion on how important the release of Windows 7 is. Many, some of which are obvious Apple fanboys, will claim Microsoft’s new operating system is meaningless, and that very few people will either be upgrading their current system to Windows 7 or buying a new system with it built in.
Others, me included, think that actually people will want to do one or the other of those in their droves. Due to a combination of Windows XP machines now getting a little old, and Vista still not pleasing many who use it, Windows 7 will do well both as a standalone product and as a pre-install on new PCs.
John Biggs at CrunchGear is in the latter camp, despite being a self-confessed Apple fanboy. And he recently spelled out the three reasons he thinks Windows 7 is important and how the new OS will end the IT recession when it’s released on Oct. 22.
First up is the IT departments of companies, who will be pushing for upgrades to Windows 7 as soon as possible. IT guys are impressed with Windows 7 and will probably endeavor to have their companies upgrade to it from, probably XP, but maybe even Vista. This could drive sales of the OS itself, new systems, monitors, memory upgrades, and more.
Next is the possibility of people eschewing low-powered netbooks for slightly more powerful machines running windows 7. Unlike Vista, Windows 7 is built for netbooks, and this could make the OS the best choice for everyone looking to buy a new laptop in the near future.
Lastly, it’s gamers. Biggs thinks that there’s a whole slew of gamers out there eager to upgrade and use ever more powerful hardware. With no new consoles on the horizon for at least five years, that means PC gaming is likely to see a boost in popularity, and Windows 7 will be a driver in that.
There’s no guarantee that Biggs’ prediction will prove correct but it’s a well thought out argument for why Windows 7 could prove to be a big deal for more than just Microsoft. The next year or so will show whether this is the case or not.
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