Microsoft Doesn't Expect Huge Boost From Win7

Expectations couldn't possibly be higher for Microsoft's next-generation operating system. Amazingly, this will be the first Windows OS that will actually run smoother on current-gen hardware than the prior OS. Indeed, the Release Candidate of Windows 7 that is on the market today runs far smoother on current machines than Vista, and while Vista practically drags netbooks to a crawl, Win7 hums along just fine. That said, it seems that Microsoft is keeping its hopes in check with the impending release. We already know that many businesses will be holding off on the upgrade for some time, and given the current economic situation, we'd guess that many consumers will also hold off for awhile if at all possible.


Microsoft senior vice president Bill Veghte recently had this to say about the future Windows 7 release: "History would tell us that generally as you ship a Windows release into the market...the bump is very modest. You will see a little bit, but it is modest." Speaking about the business side of things, he sounded even more gloomy: "It will get drowned by the macroeconomic environment."


Still, we're a bit more hopeful about the Win7 launch, though it's probably not for a reason Microsoft wants. By and large, Vista has been so troublesome that many will jump at the chance to get away from it. We suppose there's no better way to get folks to upgrade than to give them a product that makes them yearn to see something different.