June 4th, 2009
Windows 7 saves Microsoft, but will it rebuild post-Vista spirit?
Microsoft is on track to release the next client operating system, Windows 7, on 22nd October 2009, in time for the holiday season to follow. Will it be everything we are hoping for? I truly believe so.
With the disaster that Vista was to the public image of Microsoft, I can see no less than a steaming, fresh dog turd with a Windows flag jammed into it being a thorough improvement to their line of operating systems. Although I may have had different opinions before, opinions change when circumstances change.
Qualitative
The information it gives you is not only accurate but friendly. The new user experience guidelines surpass those used for Vista and XP; the latter with error messages which just appeared rude at times. With options for pretty much everything, even customising how notifications alert you are essential to the overall end user feel.
Quantitative
With Microsoft’s new “approach” to modular installation, which in absolutely no way was determined by the European Commission… (smirk), it gives the user a greater option of what goes into the system. Even though you can uninstall features such as Internet Explorer 8, you’ll still need it to download another web browser, but it’s the thought that counts. Maybe Windows 7 will push out the unofficial modular and cut-down installations that people build, ISO up and release to the web?
Reliable
Even though in this day and age of operating systems, no future Windows edition will match that of Windows XP. The precedent has been set with Vista, using the system resources to power the chunky graphics which it boasted. However, the Desktop Windows Manager, the key engine behind powering the Aero Glass user interface has been stripped down to a bare minimum. The outcome? Exactly the same power and functionality, without any of the crap that wasn’t needed; cutting nearly 50% of the service.
Dynamic
The ability to manipulate your desktop space has long been desired, yet been there from the start. Being able to cascade and tile your windows wasn’t enough; being able to truly take control over where your windows go. With Aero Snap, this can be done so easily, by literally taking control of the window and throwing it against the side of your screen. It’s become almost natural in physically taking control of your desktop.
Beautiful
Even though it has many of the eye candy features of Windows Vista, it remains clean and crisp, and a genuine pleasure to use. Long Zheng has taken his Thursday evening admiring the elegancy and precision of finer details - the icons. I have been hearing rumours that the Windows version screen will be changing. Whether this to be true or not, we will have to wait and see, as presently it is fairly boring and goes against the grain of what we have previously seen. Nevertheless, my guess is as good as yours - as you can see.
Compatible
With XP mode allowing you to turn the clock back and use a legacy version of Windows to ensure your applications work properly, this will be a massive, extraordinary feature which no other company has come up with before. The only downside is that the virtual memory used in your virtual machine will still clock up physical memory and physical hard drive space. Still, it’ll be worth it to get the best of both worlds.
After the bad experiences many have had with Vista, as long as the marketing is put forward in a way which is gentle, easing to the eye and not “in your face”, it’ll make Windows 7 a new milestone in the company’s history. Making operating systems is what made Microsoft famous in the first place. It’s about time they clawed back their market share with this quite frankly, wonderful piece of kit.
Has Microsoft already shot themselves in the foot or can the dark cloud finally be lifted over Redmond?
Zack Whittaker, the youngest in the ZDNet network, is a British student at the University of Kent, Canterbury, where he studies BA (Hons) Criminology and Social Policy. His insight into the next-generation is unique and first-hand, sharing his knowledge of the here and now but more so what's next and how to get there.
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