Windows 7: the biggest success of 2009
2009 was, like almost every year, a big one for technology and advancement in that field. However, I believe that the biggest success story of 2009 was the launch of Windows 7, which could have implications for Microsoft and those of us who use Microsoft products for years to come.
2009 is now no more, and we’re all fully ensconced in the glory of 2010. 2009 was the year that the iPhone and iPod Touch continued to dominate for Apple, e-book readers such as the Kindle moved into the mainstream, a future of tablet computers became possible, with first the CrunchPad (now the JooJoo) and then the Apple iSlate intriguing the masses.
All good stuff, and just the tip of a very big iceberg in terms of news and product launches in technology. However, for me 2009 was all about Windows 7, Microsoft’s latest operating system which launched in October to replace Vista.
To be fair, Microsoft would have had to really screw up to have succeeded in matching or outdoing the launch of Vista two years previously. The launch of Vista was abysmal, with a bad vibe emanating from all corners before, during and after its release. Whether the product was actually that bad or whether it was just seen as unnecessary while XP was still doing a fine job is open to debate.
The launch of Windows 7 was nothing like Vista’s. From the earliest reviews of the earliest builds of the OS it was clear Windows 7 was a vast improvement on its predecessor. And so it proved when the final product emerged from Microsoft HQ.
Not only was the product worthy of the Microsoft name and actually desired by people, the launch went smoothly as well. There were a few problems here and there, but they were quickly fixed and dealt with, and Microsoft stayed on top of the situation throughout.
Like many people I’ve now been using Windows 7 for a while, and like most I consider it an absolute dream to use. Not only is it much better than Vista, it’s also light years ahead of XP. And anyone holding onto the old OS for any other reason than monetary ones should switch now.
If Microsoft had messed Windows 7 up then its future would have looked a little shaky. One bad OS people can forgive, but two in a row and confidence in a company and a product line falls off a cliff. As it is, Microsoft can now concentrate on Windows 8 and the other range of products it is working on safe in the knowledge it has a stable and beloved OS out on the market.
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January 4th, 2010
The biggest failure in 2009 was windows’s 7 lack of a direct upgrade from XP. It will cost Microsoft dearly in market share that won’t pass the 25-30% in the years to come.
January 4th, 2010
hmmm, I’d say its more premature than Obama’s Nobel to say Windows 7 is “the biggest success of 2009″
Perhaps in 2010…
January 4th, 2010
Users have always overwhelmingly upgraded Windows by purchasing new hardware, a practice Microsoft supports with OEM pricing.
Microsoft is less than eager to saddle itself with the support of wide open hardware and correctly likes to have the hardware vendors handling it.
It’s not logical to extend the 32 bit OS that is XP and have to furnish dual drivers.
January 8th, 2010
windows 7′s influence will probably come to a highlight in 2010, in 2009, too early to say that