Ballmer to talk Windows 7, not ZunePhone, at CES

Microsoft will have a bunch of stuff to show at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, but a rumored ZunePhone won't be one of them, according to sources familiar with the company's plans.

Instead, much of CEO Steve Ballmer's focus will be on talking about Windows 7 from a consumer perspective. Microsoft is pushing to have Windows 7 done in time for the holiday 2009 shopping season, so that means this CES is Ballmer's best stage to tout its benefits.

While the desktop operating system will be front and center, sources say to expect Ballmer to talk about how Windows is moving beyond the PC and into a world of PC, Web, and phone, a refrain we also heard a lot from Ray Ozzie at November's Professional Developers Conference, where the world also got its first good look at Windows 7.

On the phone front, Microsoft may not have a ZunePhone, but it is going ahead with several other strategies--pushing phone makers to develop phones based on Windows Mobile, developing Windows Live services for phones running a variety of operating systems as well as a number of new "premium mobile services" based on its Danger acquisition.

The company has also talked about extending its Zune service beyond the company's own dedicated player and mentioned the phone as a logical place to access the service. We may hear more about timing of this at CES, I'm told. In an October interview with CIO UK, Ballmer mentioned the possibility of accessing the Zune service on Windows Mobile phones.

The Xbox will certainly get its due as well during Ballmer's keynote speech and, as is typically the case, expect Microsoft to announce some new partnerships at the show. A funny video and celebrity guest are usually safe bets as well.

So that's what I've heard, but if tipsters know any more, I'm all ears.

[Mr. Dee]

Windows 7 is definitely moving full steam ahead, been running it since PDC 2008 and its been very stable and fast. If you look at the progress of the newer builds especially that recently leaked 6956, its pretty much the same as the one Julie Larson Green demoed at PDC. I agree some journalist who are saying that Microsoft might probably RTM it by April 2009 with GA by June 2009. The fact that there will be only 1 beta release then RC says a lot about how quick the Company wants to get this release out.

[The_happy_switcher]

Someone explain how renaming Vista to Windows 7, disabling some UAC nag screens make this better than that crap MS is trying to sell already?

[donsms]

Relax,Windows 7 will even surprise you!!

[whizkid454]

If AppleRocks did more than just sit around and bash Windows and actually LOOK at what MS is doing with 7, he might have at least a clue as to what's going on and how Windows 7 will once again make Windows BETTER THAN MAC OS.

[ppgreat]

Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect thet best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality. ? Ralph Marston

[Brian]

Snow Leopard is coming and we won't have to worry about Micro$oft trying to play catch up.

Think about it for a moment.

By December 2009, you will have delays that will push to release because it's not finished, but that won't stop Micro$oft from releasing it anyhow.

Then by December 2010, Micro$oft will release BETA SP1 and the following year, SP1 may arrive with many fixes to some very serious kernal panic issues.

As for us, Snow Leopard will pioneer the way a computer operating system should be done.

[Swimatm]

Microsoft doesn't sell crap. End of story.

[Mr. Dee]

Steve Ballmer didn't say that Windows 7 is Vista, he said Windows 7 is a better Vista, meaning Vista is already great, just that they taking the experience to greater level with this release. Anyway, Vista is a big hit, 25 million stagnant Mac users can't compare to 250 million satisfied Vista users. Sorry, but 99% of the world is not interested in buying Steve Jobs overpriced junk when the can get a comparable Windows notebook for half the price or even lesser.

[The_happy_switcher]

"250 million satisfied Vista users" That's pretty ******* funny Dee. You should write comedy material. BTW, what color is the sky in your world?

[Brian]

Mr. Anderson, we've been expecting you!

You cannot escape the Matrix anymore than you can escape reality.

Your fanboyism with Micro$haft is more apparent now than ever.

[Vegaman_Dan]

AppleRocks : You might start your search by first realizing that Windows Vista and Windows 7 are not the same product. Once you understand that, it will be much easier.

A Ford Fusion and a Ford Escape are both Ford products, but they are not the same, nor should people confuse one for the other.

Also, please provide these mythical quotes you refer to where Ballmer calls Windows 7 as Vista. I'd love to see your sources.

I'm also curious why you are reading all these PC-only magazines when you aer an Apple advocate and fan. Are you changing sides ? Planning to defect? Or are you just making it up?

@Brain: Apple has already stated that Snow Leopard will only be a service pack / collection of bug fixes and will not include any new features beyond minor tweaks.

Also, you'll find your comments accepted with a bit more respect if you refrain from such childish behavior as using slurs and juvenile names for Microsoft and others. Really now, the fourth grade was a long time ago. You may want to join the rest of the grownups.

[o2bpitching]

@ Vegaman_Dan

Saying that Snow Leopard will only be a service pack with bug fixes and no new features is a gross misrepresentation of the facts. Will there be any flashy, killer app additions? No. But will there be new features, yes. The OS is being partially rewritten to accommodate multicore computing, Open CL, which will allow processor intensive tasks to be moved to the GPU, the complete move to 64 bit computing and finally, the rewriting of all bundled applications to Cocao for more stability and faster running. Also, Snow Leopard will debut QuickTime 10, which will be a huge leap in performance and power for the video core of OSX. Finally, Snow Leopard will be much smaller compared to Leopard, in both RAM used and hard drive space, allowing for more user files. So is there any new flashy features? No, but the OS will be much more stable, faster and stronger than Leopard, again pushing Apple past anything that Microsoft can do with Windows 7.

[jessiethe3rd]

Seriously - Windows 7 is pretty fantastic and it is rock stable from what I have seen. Okay - good for Apple but honestly, Windows 7 is quite a good OS and 90+% of the rest of the users in the world will be running it as well.

[sanenazok]

Why what's this, someone actually using Windows 7 and able to provide some insight about it? Nobody wants to hear this, instead all that's allowed on these forms is bellyaching from OS X users about how the NEXT iteration of the Apple OS that's maybe just around the corner will blow MSFT out of the water and completely breach 4% of worldwide computer deployments.

I for one am happy with Vista and have been since Feb. 07 when I put it on my $400 homebrew PC.

[BigGuns149]

I tried build 6801 and frankly was underwhelmed. I am not saying that a more recent build isn't a lot more mature, but Windows 7 so far doesn't feel that much different. Sure it uses a GPT based partitioning system and has a few more drivers than Vista, but a lot of things are really unpolished like new programs that don't seem to make sense with almost non-existant documentation.

I don't question that they are making some progress and there are some UI changes that I like, but there is no really major changes that I saw so far. Right now Windows "7" feels a lot more like Windows 6.01 than anything dramatic enough to call it a product that is worthy of calling 7.0.

[cheese3915]

@biguns149.

Build 6081 was for DEVELOPERS to know the internals and workings of win7, not for CONSUMERS! There were not many features at all that were different. It was different under the hood. So dont say windows 7 is not windows 7.0. The product was not intended for you. You need to understand that. When the final product comes out, than bash it all you want. build 6801 was NOT FOR CONSUMERS LIKE YOU AND ME!!!

[CrashPad63]

Oh Windows 7 is a much improved Vista. I put 7 on a 5 year old Dell lappy, 1.4 processor, and 1 gb memory. This M3 build is just remarkable. A pre beta that is feature complete like this is unheard of, Apple cant even say this about Snow Leopard.
No most skeptics will be suprised by the improvements of 7 over Vista. And the rest of the naysayers are just fanbois trying to hyjack the discussion.

[tm_anon]

Isn't Windows 7 bringing in multitouch? One of the articles posted on CNET earlier this week mentioned Apple patenting no-touch technology, as in, your fingers don't even have to meet the surface. Microsoft makes the version Apple did last time and calls it new technology. Sure, Windows 7 may be more stable than Vista, it may even be faster than other OS's currently in use, but by the time it comes out, there will be others, all equally new, but most likely, the technology will be beyond anything MSFT has introduced so far. Not saying they can't step up, just saying they haven't. Still waiting on real innovation for the prices they ask.

[bama3]

First, let's dispell that fact that MS copied touch from Apple. MS had touch in the MS Surface and Tablet PC.Even before MS Touch was around but never popular. So let's not give MS or Apple for touch.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Yes, multitouch is available in Windows 7 for hardware that supports it including several HP and Dell laptops. There's even a few of those models avaialble *now* that will support it when Windows 7 is released.

[ace10134]

Hah i was going 2 say the same thing, that surface was released before the iphone, and had multitouch way before. Also like he said, the tablet PC's have been around for a long time too, and Apple has nothing to match.

Been using vista a few months after it came out, and still am impressed with it.

[kboateng]

Real innovation for the prices they ask?? Have you checked the cost of any mac lately? They cost about twice as much as any PC and they're far from being on the same level in terms of use, costumization and features. And MS has had touch screen phones years before the iPhone, they were developing the tablet years before the iPhone and have been using the technology in gadgets since I can remember. How are they using something old and branding it as new?

[expatincebu]

Can someone please give me a summary of what is so great about Win7? I googled and read lots of articles and all I came up with is they copied OSX's dock and put in touch screen capability. I'm not impressed. I will stick with xp.

[goodspeed8701]

maybe you should google harder and you may just see what you are looking for. Cnet why do you let morons like this register?

[Mark_Anderson]

If you had actually read 'lots of articles' you would know the answer to your question.

But you didn't, did you?

Come back when you have something worth reading, kid.

[falkensmaze]

@expatincebu

you said "I'm not impressed"!! yet you "googled and read lots of articles " LOL
your research levels know no ends!!! I'm not going to detail everything but Ive tried the new task bar and it apart from the fact there is icons at the bottom of the screen (default position ) it really couldn't be more different from mac dock.

BTW XP is gr8 for gooooogleing so you should be fine

[Mr. Dee]

You just made yourself look really stupid expatincebu.

[ace10134]

OK, to save you some googling effort, Windows had icons on the taskbar since their first editions. Recently, in XP and Vista, they were shrinked down in size to the QuickLaunch Bar. Now they broght back the Large icons, which also group the minimized windows within the icons. Therefore if you want to bring back up your minimized Word document, you just roll over the Word icon on the bottom, and then windows pop up above the icon of all of your Word programs and you can select which you want to maximize again.

Also, you can return to the old taskbar if you want. And if you're trying to say that Apple's operating system minimizes to something on the bottom, and that Microsoft ripped that off, well don't even try.

[CrashPad63]

Smaller memory footprint, MS is unplugging from some of the addons in favor of a more customizable and downloadable feature sets. Older processors run this OS very well. Driver signature will be virtually the same as Vista, the broken hardware issues will be less than Vista. Componetization is something youre going to read about going foward. This gives MS much more flexibility to unplug and plug in feature sets.
Bear in mind this is a pre beta build. And this already is rock soild. Everything in it works. No crippled features like beta builds of the past.
No this build is a thing of the future now! No waiting. Oh and just a little heads up for all. Announced by MS at PDC there wil be 1 Beta one RC and then the final OEm/Retail build. By August Ive been seeing. Although one close to MS says his prognastication is April of 2009.

[The_happy_switcher]

I suppose the Windows morons are going to ignore the obvious fact that Windows is getting more bloated and OS X and is getting slimmer and faster. Apparently they're too concerned about making sure that they can run Crysis or some other equally repetitive boring first person shooter that's barely evolved from the days of Doom I.

[marknichelson]

sounds like somebody's a little bitter that nobody makes good games for macs. awwwwww....

[The_happy_switcher]

Ever heard of a console? Windows free, here, since 2005. Wish I had done it sooner.

[Brian]

When Snow Leopard arrives in a month or two (not certain when, the Macworld event in January will let us in), we will enjoy the world's most advanced operating system on the planet.

What's that?

Vista? Windoze 7?

Microhoo ??

Oh, yeh, the Microsoft/Yahoo Takeover - that will happen.

Life is good! :)

[Mr. Dee]

Actually, Windows 7 uses only 9 GB's of disk space. A lot of multimedia applications have been moved to Windows Live as optional downloads eg. Windows Live Photo Gallery, Movie Maker. The only software programs from Vista I see in the OS is DVD Maker and that's an essential program to have anyway in the OS. If OS X so great, then Steve Jobs RDF would have already covered the entire market for PC's. I think you have some serious issues AppleRocks1963, you simply discredit without any concrete evidence, you don't talk about the obvious flaws on your platform like Leopard GA wiping out use data when files are moved from partition to partition, the mobile me fiasco people lost months of email on the service, the reliability the problems with the latest MacBook's requiring a major firmware update (check Tom Krazits latest post.

[sanenazok]

@AppleRocks1963 Nobody's a "Windows moron" or an "Apple moron" since the computing platform someone happens to use has little to do with relative intelligence. It's the things that people say and write that reveal if they are morons. I'll let people draw their own conclusions about you, but then again you kind'a sound like a whiny kid so you probably can't help coming across a "certain way." You're free to pay the extra money for jumping icons and to support turtlenecks, I just don't see the appeal.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Don't worry, AppleRocks. Maturity comes with time. Some day you will become an adult and can participate in grown up conversations without acting so childlishly.

[BigGuns149]

I will agree that Windows has been getting more bloated with each new release, but I would beg to differ that OSX is getting slimmer and faster with each release. Mac OS 10.5 was slower than 10.4 particularly on PPC machines.

OS 10.6 is supposed to be much slimmer, but that is largely because they are going to drop ppc support. It isn't terribly amazing that the x86 only code is slimmer than the universal binaries. Seeing as Apple doesn't do public betas or release much details at all to the public, I would be skeptical of whether you are so sure that 10.6 will be much faster than 10.5 unless you are an Apple employee.

[cheese3915]

I saw what you wrote, and i have seen what you have written. Why are you so violent towards PC's? I would like to know. And lemme guess, you had an Obama sign in your lawn (implying you own a house)

Please tell me why you hate PC's and find it necessary to bash them.

If macs are so great, why do you have to belittle PC's? just make do mac stuff, like imovie or iphoto or icalender or ilife or iphone or imac or ipod or isuckatlifeandiamsecretlyjealousofPC'sthatswhyimakefunofthem

[ferretboy88]

Don't forget about all my business software that doesn't work on a Apple.

[Vegaman_Dan]

AppleRocks1963 wrote:

Ever heard of a console? Windows free, here, since 2005. Wish I had done it sooner"

Why yes, yes I have. It's the Xbox 360. What was the name of that Apple gaming console you were using again? :)

[AppleSuxLeo]

As a long-time Softie I must admit I am going Android as it already has Amazon MP3 , and that is all I need for music. The one thing that will blow people away however is the Windows Mobile "Tegra" device. That device makes the iPhone look childish in comparison. Things are going to get very interesting , very soon.

[t8]

OK, I can see that Microsoft is back to sponsoring people to make positive comments here.
The reality is that Microsoft products are not the best, and are usually rip offs of something better.

[Brian]

Mark my words: Micro$oft will copy the iPhone.

When the ZunePhone arrives, you will see them at their worst.

But just wait for Winbloze Seven, the official name for Service Pak 3 for Vista.

But don't take my word for it, just ask the fanboyz.

[CrashPad63]

Brian, your words are not worthy to be marked. The same blather as all fanbois who cant seem to realize that Windows just works. OSX just locks in.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Brian:

I'm pretty sure that Microsoft (that's the correct way to spell the company's name- perhaps your keyboard is defective, or there is a problem with your ability to spell) will have the Zune software ready to run a smartphone in other OEM's products. The interface on the Zune is quite intuitive and well suited for a cell phone or even a smart phone. You might want to familiarize with the product.

You also misspelled Windows as "Winbloze". Again, either a typo, inability to spell, keyboard failure, or just immaturity. I believe readers can guess which answer that will be. :)

[Seaspray0]

Dan, Brian did that because he loves crapple and osux. Those were typo's.... really!

[jkeels]

Hmmm, I have used many operating systems over many years. I have used OS X 10.4 and 10.5 extensively, and I like them. I also have Ubuntu 8.10 on my PC and I like it (for somehwat different reasons). I also have XP (which I am beginning to part ways with) and also I am using Vista at this moment on the same computer. Each one has their advantages and disadvantages. I would still agree with Apple users that OS X is the most stable and easy to use OS for a personal computer. However, I thought I would hate Vista. But actually it came with SP1 when I got it and it has been much more stable and a lot less vulnerable to viruses and spyware than XP was for me. Also, I like the User Interface a lot better and so far it has worked fine with all of my hardware and software. Windows 7 should be interesting but then so should the next version of Ubuntu, OpenSUSE, and OS X 10.6/snow leopard. :)

[Brian]

@jkeels

Do you have a preference on which operating system you feel has a more intuitive interface?

I prefer the Spotlight, Spaces, Expose, Dock, QuickLook, Finder and simplicity of the desktop myself.

[random truth]

Brian
You sound like such a kid.
Ex. A teacher says I like my kindergarden class.
You say "Do you like me cause I am cooler than them"

[Vegaman_Dan]

@random truth: Hey now, that's probably the first mature post that Brian has made in this thread. Don't knock him for asking an honest question in a non-inflammatory manner.

I am curious to the answer as well.

[random truth]

@Veganman_Dan
Brian edited his post.
Also have you not been reading his posts. After tons of posts with Micro$oft, winbloze, etc. eventually I had to call him on it.
-randomtruth
randomtruthsblog.synthasite.com

[Brian]

@random truth

Knock it off, okay?

Stop telling lies because I am sick and tired of it.

There is no way to edit a post, so stop the personal attacks.

Ever hear of freedom of speech?

If you don't like it, don't read it.

[Seaspray0]

@brian. Knock it off? You're kidding, right? You've done nothing but slander microsoft with post after post... "winblowx, microsux, M$"... Understand this: We are not you. We all have different tastes. There are plenty of people who like using microsoft products (the other 90% of the world) and when you run around DISSING what we do like without a good explanation, then don't expect ANY respect. How about you knock it off.

[slickuser]

Looking forward to get vista sp3 aka windows 7

[sgntscrawn]

"once again make windows better than osx"? So, when did Microsoft produce a product that was overall technically superior than Mac OS X? I'm not immune to Apple's faults, any company has them, but I really don't see Microsoft leading innovation in any shape or form.

[CrashPad63]

Try 98, 2000, or Xp all more robust and innovative than the contemporary Apple showing.

[Vegaman_Dan]

There is no 'better' when it comes to an OS. Each one is different and has its own pros and cons. OS X isn't better than Linux than it is over Windows. All three do different jobs and apply to different users. It's not about compeition, it's about finding a product that fits the needs of the user.

Trying to make it sound like a 'us vs them' argument is just plain silly in my opinon.

[random truth]

Veganman_Dan
Good job, I have been saying this for a while. For my job (which ill admit is a niche)
MacOSX > Linux > Windows
-randomtruth
randomtruthsblog.synthasite.com

[Seaspray0]

Agreed, Vegaman.

[GetOutMore]

My corn chip tastes better than your corn chip.

[sanenazok]

Nooo that's because your a stuupiiddd newbie and fanboi. Mine tastes better and IT'S BIGGER too.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Sorry, I had to reformat my cornchip after it fell on the floor. I replaced it with one that came from a bag with instructions on exactly who is allowed to eat it, when and where, along with restrictions on sharing it with others.

[random truth]

@Sanenazok
But I could have built my own corn chip for half the price!

[Seaspray0]

Someone forged my corn chips and tried to use it in another state. The bag got canceled within the hour and my 400 missing chips were reimbursed. I had to file a police report.

[AppleSuxLeo]

My PC can beat up your Mac...And I built it myself and spent much less money on it. But best of all , it plays all my games ;)

[random truth]

Good for you.
I buy my pc's prebuilt because my time is worth more than the money I "save" building and servicing my own pcs, I used to build them tho.

[ferretboy88]

I never have to service my custom made pcs. They work right out of the boxes. Apple sells you a computer and you are not allowed to touch it.

[Brian]

@ferretboy88

I used to be you -- owned custom built PC systems for many years and I wasn't afraid to open it to add some new peripheral, sound card, memory, optical drive, etc.

Owning a Mac is superior in every way - these machines look beautiful in comparison to those ugly rectangular boxes.

You can choose whatever you like of course.

Are you ugly or pretty?

That's the question you have to answer everyday you look at that "thing".

[compudoc318]

choose ugly or pretty, what a joke, how about using the system that i can log into work and use, or the system i can work on and buy parts. and what a joke that osx has boot camp to use windows to do the real work......

[AppleSuxLeo]

BTW...Chrome has already kicked the crap out of Safari.

[random truth]

Good for it, but you realize they are based on the same rendering engine. Its called webkit. SInce Chrome came out sooner than the newest version of safari, it has the newest webkit version. When the next safari comes out its going to be faster than chrome, then when the next chrome comes out it going to be faster than safari again, etc. I am glad that google put their weight behind the webkit engine because it adheres a lot closer to the internet standards than other rendering engines.
-random truth
randomtruthsblog.synthasite.com

[random truth]

I meant came out after, sorry sooner is not correct

[fooldog01]

It never ceases to amaze me the idea of all encompassing superiority with one brand. Ive used every operating system known to man and I currently use Vista, XP and Ubuntu. OSX is not listed there not because it isn't a decent OS but because of all the limitations and stipulations that go with using Apple products. Using Vista, XP and Ubuntu all at the same time, I find Vista to be the relatively the best of the 3 and gives me almost zero problems. Ubuntu is great because it is free and open source but open source has its drawbacks in that the functionality and compatibility just isn't up to par as much as we wish it were.

And I don't understand why people put a $ in Microsoft like they are being clever. At least Microsoft gives it users rights. I really have a problem with Apple as a company for trying to strap me to a spec piece of hardware for the "privilege" to use their software. They are worse than Sony with it's Memory Stick.

If anyone wants to argue against my completely unbiased statement , don't bother. I'm staying out of here. Reading slanted opinions based on nothing just makes me frustrated.

[Vegaman_Dan]

People with ego issues like to feel superior to others. It challenges their personal view of the world unless they can be constantly told that they are superior to all others. Their choice in hardware or OS makes them a better person and all others are inferiors that need to be stomped upon lest they challenge the person's ego.

It's true of computers, cars, politics, religiion and even soft drinks. I don't see this ever changing.

And Mt. Dew Code Red is the best and you are all poopie heads if you disagree with me. :)

[ferretboy88]

This is why I will never own another Apple computer. The people that use them are so annoying and stuck up. Look at me I am better than you. Would you like a croissant to go with your mocha latte?

[compudoc318]

its especially funny to see apple sticker in car windows....look that apple guy is so cool!!.....lol. might as well advertise the toothpaste you use right next to it....lol

[random truth]

The fanboys are not a majority. Maybe 1 out of every 1000 mac users. However their fanbase talks louder than apple itself and is probably its Achilles heel.

[mdsix]

I agree with both fooldof01 and ferretboy88.

I don't see why nearly every Apple user has such contempt for all things "Micro$haft"... There are so many PC users out there who get along just fine knowing that there are other good OS's but Mac users just can't comprehend that anything could possibly be on the same level as their beloved OSX.

I pefer Vista over Mac but I don't wake up in the morning with a goal to troll every windows thread and see how many uneducated statements I can make to **** people off.

Why can't apple users accept the fact that different people prefer different OS's?

Microsoft Windows IS an operating system. Mac OS IS an operating system. I've tried several Linux distro's and they are all good too.

Can't we all just get along?

[random truth]

Its just that the few apple fanboys are completely obnoxious. I use a mac myself.
-randomtruth
randomtruthsblog.synthasite.com

[someguynamedbob]

whats with apple people anyway? microsponge hasent realy offended apple in anyway realy (not in a national way such as tv, radio, papers) but apple has realesed tv adds AIMING for pc and obviously microsoftener (such as the apple add when pc has the buzzer and stoping mac from saying vista) right now. when i thing apple... i think obnoxious fatA$$es that are that pick on some random guy cauze they have no brain, no life, no soul. now i like macs. they good computers but the people who use them are just real jerks.

[The_happy_switcher]

Windows users read this:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/153624/under_the_hood_windows_7_is_vistas_twin.html


[Edited to remove profanity.]

[Brian]

My question is this, which is better -- Vista or Windows 7 ???

[Mark_Anderson]

Sure, it makes perfect sense to compare a pre-beta build to a RTM product.

Or not.

However, what you can do is look at AKH's review of the latest build of W7 against Vista and XP if we are going to do this:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3187

Woops. Another bit of trolling debunked!

You know, you must get tired of making utter fools of yourselves and yet here you are back for more. I think the technical term for you guys is a 'palooka'.

[The_happy_switcher]

From PC WORLD: "Lipstick on the Pig

So where does this leave us? For starters, we can now say with some certainty that the Windows 7 build I tested is just a repackaging of Windows Vista. Key processes look and work much like they do under Vista, and preliminary benchmark testing shows that Windows 7 performs right on a par with its predecessor. Frankly, Windows 7 is Vista, at least under the hood; if nothing else, this should translate into excellent backward compatibility with Vista-certified applications and drivers.

Except that it might not. The M3 build of Windows 7 breaks all sorts of things that, frankly, it shouldn't be breaking. Worse still, the suspected source of a major compatibility bump--the neutered UAC prompts--is in fact architectural in nature, one of the few truly new features of Windows 7's secure computing stack.

Windows Vista has permanently eroded the company's reputation among IT decision makers, and from what we've seen of Windows 7 so far, Microsoft still doesn't get it. "

Ballmer says Windows 7 is Vista, PC WORLD says so, too. Are you waiting for Jesus to come down to earth and say the same before you are convinced?

[Brian]

I used to be a Windows user, but when I decided to expand my mind and switch to the Mac, the experience was awe inspiring.

From the well thought out design of the Dock to the Expose organization of apps to the Spotlight search as well as Spaces, Stacks, QuickLook, Finder (so much nicer than Windows Explorer) to the many other enhancements and user interface designs such as borderless windows, Automater, etc., this is what Apple does best.

I can't wait for Snow Leopard -- we are going to be so spoiled. :)

[Mark_Anderson]

Are you really asking us to take the word of Randall LOL Kennedy on a pre-Beta early build test? Because that would be sad.

It always amazes me that the more rabid fanboys hang around topics about other operating systems where they spout their vitriolic and ill informed nonsense. After all, if you're happy with your OS then why are you even here?

Unless of course you realise that you've made a mistake and want to vent your fury on people who are largely happy with what they use? :)

Never mind, at least the comedy value you give us doesn't diminish.

[solu1978]

Hey applerocks ... thanks for the entertainment you provide .. the truth my windows xp x64 is better than Mac OS anyday ... So all the Apple fans out there ask Apple to make something better than XP and then compare it with Vista. Looking forward to some more free entertainment from the Apple Fan Club.

[ozzychi]

You do realize that a Mac IS a PC, right? There must be some reason Mac's only have 15% of the market (for all these years!) and it can't be because of their bad commercials, can it?