Windows 7 may unleash latent PC demand
Updated at 6:25 p.m. PDT with comments from Hewlett-Packard.
Longstanding latent demand for PCs packing a new version of Windows is set to be unleashed, following Microsoft's nod Monday for a holiday release of Windows 7.
Laptop shipments should get a boost from Windows 7.
(Credit: Hewlett-Packard)"There's a lot of pent up demand for Windows, particularly in corporate, which by and large passed on Vista," said Roger Kay, president of Endpoint Technologies, a market research firm. "Dell and Lenovo should be relieved."
PC sales ground to a halt in the fourth quarter of 2008, after several years of consistent 15 percent quarterly growth, according to an IDC report issued earlier this year.
Windows 7 could change that. "The holiday timing will, of course, benefit consumer-oriented (PC makers) like HP and Acer," Kay said.
Windows 7 may also slow the migration to Apple's operating system. "Defections to Mac may slow. So, Apple won't be entirely happy," Kay said.
And how big is Windows 7 for hardware makers? "Win7 will have the fastest adoption curve of any new rev since Windows 95...I think you'll see adoption earlier than usual in commercial because the code is so stable. The old adage about waiting for SP1 (Service Pack 1) may not be as relevant this time around," he said.
Intel--whose processors will power the lion's share of Windows 7 PCs--is upbeat. "Our early testing is showing improved battery life for consumer notebooks, so Windows 7 should continue to improve the consumer experience," said Jeff McCrea, vice president of Intel's Consumer PC group, in response to an e-mail query. McCrea added that Intel's processors and chipsets work well with the initial beta version of Windows 7.
Hewlett-Packard is working closely with Microsoft, looking toward Windows 7 upcoming release. "We are working closely with (Microsoft) as they develop Windows 7 to make sure our customers can take full advantage of the latest features," HP spokeswoman Anne Finnie said Monday.
And PC graphics chip suppliers like Nvidia have been finessing their Windows 7 drivers in anticipation of a release of the operating system. "Windows 7 users now have the absolute latest in performance and support," said Dwight Diercks, vice president of software engineering at Nvidia, in a statement, referring to various technologies Nvidia is now supporting in Windows 7.
Brooke Crothers has served as an editor at large at CNET News, an editor at Dow Jones' Asian Wall Street Journal Weekly, and a senior editor at InfoWorld. His CNET blog covers chip technology and computer systems, and how they define the computing experience. He also contributes to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. Follow Brooke on Twitter @mbrookec. 
You're not helping with comments like that, now are you?
Seems like Monkeyfun14 nailed you right there.
Don't your bosses want you working on some anti-malware app, not posting on CNET?
TWIT had a person say it flies...even on a six-year-old notebook.
.... Amazing performance. After vista dubbed it useless
Why on earth would I do that? If what I want is Windows, why would I waste tons of money buying an underpowered, overpriced Mac, then pay full retail for Windows?
Why not just buy 2 equally capable Windows PC's for the price?
Macintoshes are neither underpowered nor overpriced. And most people buy a Macintosh so that they won't have to put with the third rate products of Microsoft. But occasionally, they have to deal with a bassackward IT department that requires some arcane Windows-only application.
Then again maybe he shills and spreads FUD for free?
AppleRubbleofStones1963, are you getting ready to dump the Mac? Well, you can salvage whats left of it and install Windows 7 and use a real OS instead of a gimmick named OS X that you have paid over $600 worth of upgrades for and still suffer nothing but constant stability problems."
I almost choked on my dinner reading what is probably the biggest FUD related statement of the year!! Next time, you should really warn someone before you say something so blatantly ignorant!!
Says a lot, doesn't it?
Buying a Mac no longer means that you are making a choice between Apple's OS and Windows. It just means that you will be buying a computer that will run both.. and then some.. natively.
This fact may actually help 7 adoption a little; Mac owners may buy it as well... since they have the unique opportunity to run it on their hardware along with their current Mac OS and/or other versions of windows.
You make this sound like it's by the grace of Apple that this is possible -- more like Apple will only sell their OS on their computers. You can't buy it stand-alone. So I'd rephrase that if I were you.
You hold off for two reasons: 1. You will get the latest hardware when the new o/s comes out by purchasing a new computer, not hardware from a year (or whatever) earlier. 2. You sure don't want to pay $1000 or thereabouts for a new Apple computer if it's more than you need to. If you wait, you don't have to pay for TWO operating systems when you only NEED one, and your hardware will cost less. Put the money you save into buying better hardware.
However, if you just can't wait because you have money burning a hole in your pocket, you can pick up a fairly good PC with low end graphics right now for $400, and use the Windoze XP you already purchased. If you bought your computer from a local computer store, and it's not a big brand name like Compaq or HP or Dell, you should have a Windoze XP install disc that came with your old computer. Install it and upgrade to Windoze 7 when it comes out. Saves you more than the purchase price of OS X. Also saves the environment if you only buy the computer and not all the accessories. You don't need new keyboard, mouse, speakers and the other junk a complete system would come with. Again, use the savings for better hardware. God, I'm glad I didn't buy a Mac.
No, I'm not a Windoze fanboy, but you could call me an open hardware fanboy if you like.
I like to build my own computer, however for my friends I recommend buying from a smaller local computer system builder. You can get everything a "major PC maker" would give you, for about the same price, minus the bloatware. Also, if you already own a computer, you can buy just the new computer by itself. Just the box, take it home and plug all your already existing accessories. Save yourself some money.
Actually we agree on much regarding intellectual property. We just like different computers.... pretty silly when you think about it.
no, no, no ...don't think that!
AppleSuxLeo is the biggest troll. I think we ALL can agree on that.
You OTOH are more of a blind fanboy
Worshipping the gods of Redmond probably
No hard feelings though !
most Mac users and even some fanboys should be able to agree
You ARE a troll. And you do attack Apple and Linux for no GOOD reason. Your arguments rarely make any sense and when they do, you present them in an antagonistic, rude fashion.
It isn't that one speaks against Apple, it's what one says. If all one says is unsubstantiated, unadulterated bullsh*t, then yes, one will be called a troll. When one makes a rational, informed comment, then we can all have a civil, productive discussion. But one has to be open minded and rational. Trolls are neither.
Yea, right.
What was wrong with the statement that you quoted? It was a direct observation by me. I have witnessed this with friends, family, and colleagues. Nothing I said was false or exaggerated.
Who's your dealer?"
The same as yours apparently. LOL!
He has a wide stance :)
Perhaps this is because Win 7 is the real SP1!
Most people (casual users) have long been at the realization that most of what they do is already working fine with whatever they've got.
Most people want appliances and don't think about getting new appliances very often.
Most everyday software already runs well enough on most hardware and meets the needs/requirements.
It's pretty tough to come up with compelling reasons to buy new unless the stuff is more engaging.
Macs are pretty engaging and inviting. Mac owners will upgrade because they know they're getting something good.
Windows, not so engaging. Not so compelling.
Not terrible. But lacks the pizazz, and only has me-too stylings without the thoughtful planning.
In fact, without peaking under the hood you would be clueless to tell I was running XP. With no task bar and the the fake MAC bar to launch programs you would think you fell into the Twighlight Zone. As for performance and speed, you wouldn't believe this was a 10yr old off the shelf store bought system w/ 1GB RAM and a mid level CPU for the times.
Bottom line is I have spent years hacking XP to my liking. Vista is a joke. Win 7 offers nothing I don't already have, and I have brought the cool stuff from OS X to XP.
As for Linux. I guess I could have had fun hanging in that crowd, but hacking an already existing Windows OS was more rewarding.
I am sure this post will be removed, as Windows is GOD and making changes to a creation by GOD to serve your purpose is a CRIME...sheep.
I know right = )
A slicker GUI ...nice .... but what most users I deal with want is a computer...PC or Mac (or even Linux) that runs their applications and enables them to surf the web, play a dvd or type their essay or letters.
Very few run Windows because they are Windows fans!!!
Windows 7 does seem to tidy up the worst problems with Vista but for most PC buyers, the OS on their new shiny new PC is not a matter of choice but whatever comes loaded on it.
They just want run Word or Facebook or whatever.
I've also noticed that when using the Aero interface that often one can not read what is in the title bar due to poor contrast. And the most annoying "feature" is the behaviour that makes a window full screen when the mouse pointer that is dragging it hits the top of the desktop. This is very bad UI. The top of the desktop is sort of an "anchor" a place to stop at. Evidently Microsoft never read the famous human interface study that Apple did back in the 1980s. But to be fair, Apple has been violating their own guidelines with Mac OS X.
you seriously need to stop with the "apple fashioned" lies. The Vista interface is eons ahead of what leopard has. some people!
I ask, what lie? How is it so far ahead? It doesn't have virtual desktops. The widgets are confined to the desktop. "Aero" reduces the contrast of information in the window's title bar. Each window has it's own menu (proven to be less efficient than a central menu bar). Disks do not automatically mount on the desktop for easy access by default. The active search tool is **** poor in comparison with Spotlight. I could go on and on, but Ill leave that to you to look up. There are independent assessments of each operating system's user interface. Many of these studies have been done over the years dating back to the early 1990's Look them up. You will find a reason to dismiss the results of all of these human interface studies, however unbiased and independent they may be however. You follow Microsoft without any reason but that's what you are used to. I am an Apple enthusiast because it truly is the easier, more stable system. I've told you a hundred times already, I grew up with both systems and made an educated choice to use Mac OS whenever possible. You refuse to admit that Windows is a cheap knockoff of Mac OS. Nothing I say or do short of beating into your thick skull will change your narrow little mind.
The fact that Apple has a default menu bar is a annoyance (harder to select options from multiple windows)
The sear bar works fine with 2 clicks ( as opposed to 1 in a mac) But then i could say that the lack of a 2nd mouse button does the same for a mac
anything else (yes apple does have many cool features) and more (that apple doesn't have) you can add from numerous 3rd party software! (dock, expose, virtual desktop / vista ultimate)
Many things you say is a matter of opinion!
http://www.apple.com/mightymouse/
That's the key difference right there. Macs come with all these features, built-in. Windows has to rely on some third party add-on. There are different mentalities at work here.
Home users and businesses cannot afford to buy brand spanking new PCs, so they either keep the old ones or buy used ones with Windows XP or Windows 2000 on them and use them until they stop working and it costs as much as a new PC to fix them, and then and only then do they buy a new PC.
I got a friend who runs a computer store and he sells $99 Windows XP boxes sans the monitor and makes a lot of money doing that. Most people and businesses just want a machine that runs Windows XP out of the box without spending a lot of money doing so. So he buys used PCs from auctions and then fixes them up and reinstalls XP on them via the COA and then sells them. They activate just fine, and are like 3.0 Ghz Single Core Hyperthreading systems with 512M of RAM, a 40 Gig hard drive, DVD drive, keyboard, mouse, etc. Monitor is only $25 to $40 more depending on how big you want it. But most people already have a monitor and just want an XP computer. He even can sell their old Vista system on eBay for them with a 25% commission, but most just set their Vista system aside and use their new monitor with a $99 XP Box until the bugs are fixed in Vista or Windows 7.0 comes out and fixes things.
Thing is even Windows 7.0 RC can be installed on those $99 XP boxes that he sells, so that means Windows 7.0 retail should be able to run on them later. Right now he can partition the hard drive for a Windows 7.0 partition or Vista partition and let the user buy a copy of Vista or download the Windows 7.0 RC and try Windows 7.0 RC out. So chances are people won't need to buy a new computer to run Windows 7.0 when it comes out. Sorry to say.
- by Catalanoam May 11, 2009 10:08 PM PDT
- i have the RC installed along side 10.5 on my MBP and i have to say its rather decent. there are bits and pieces that drive me up the wall, like inconsistencies with settings panels, having to say save settings in some places and in others it just does, that kinda thing. and i am not sure i understand libraries. But i do know i will be replacing Vista at work with 7. and i might keep it around on my MBP for ***** an giggles
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- by 711slurpee May 12, 2009 5:30 AM PDT
- I have RC 1 running on 3 Macs and a 3GHz "Frankenstein" workstation. It works well on all. The Mac Mini runs it better than it did XP aside from both Apple Bluetooth (aluminum) and USB (short aluminum) keyboard issue. I look forward to Snow Leopard but, Apple is no longer the clear choice I felt compelled to switch (back) to during the Vista disaster (insult, really).
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- by kcotham May 14, 2009 1:14 PM PDT
- I agree that it is an improvement over Vista. And I also agree that there are some annoying behaviours in Windows 7 that are either legacy drawbacks or new "features". One is inconsistency, as Catalanoam pointed out. There is nothing compelling that would ever make me switch however. The UI is just to clunky, no matter how much pretty "glass" you put on it. You have poor contrast in menu bars when using Aero. You have constant interruptions of the "are you sure you want to do this" variety, although not as badly as Vista. Software integration is virtually nonexistant unless you use nothing but M$ Office applications. Internet Explorer has the worst user interface design ever thrust upon the public and is slow as christmas when compared to Safari and Firefox. And where are virtual desktops? Linux and Mac OS X have them and I use them continuously. Why doesn't Windows have something like Dashboard? I don't want widgets cluttering up my desktop space. Why aren't removable drives mounted on the desktop by default?
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (97 Comments)Microsoft should really mail registered Vista users a free key for the equivalent form of Windows 7.
Yeah. I don't see Steve B. okaying that notion.
I fully realise that some of my gripes with Windows are due to my familiarity with Mac OS X. But Apple didn't design these features for giggles. They are there for a reason, to make the OS easier to use. If Microsoft wants to steal from Apple, steal the good stuff at least.