Introduction: Foreign media today wrote that Microsoft will release the latest operating system Windows7 on Thursday, the success or failure of this product will determine the future of the world's largest software company.
internal and external
in the outside world the impression that Microsoft represents the absolute influence. Around 90% of PCs around the world have Windows operating systems, and Microsoft claims that more than one billion people are using Windows.
Windows also the achievements of Microsoft, in fiscal year 2009 as of the end of June, Microsoft generated $ 58.4 billion in revenue up to $ 20.3 billion in operating profit (net profit of 14.6 billion US dollars), of which, Windows Contributed to more than half of the profits. Since
years, many critics believe that Microsoft's monopoly is about to end. They pointed out that the rise of Apple, the development of open source software Linux, and the revolution in the way people use PCs—that is, the “cloud computing” that shifts from desktop to remotely running software—will incite Microsoft's status as the leader.
In fact, Microsoft already has its own biggest "enemy", the company cruelty against competitors already taken attracted the attention of the European Commission and the US Department of Justice and other regulatory bodies. More importantly, Vista, which was introduced three years ago by Microsoft, was a major failure. The operating system was so large and difficult to install that many early users suddenly became unable to use the software and hardware in the computer. This has made Microsoft's reputation among users and developers greatly reduced.
Even today, compared with the launch has reached eight years of the previous generation operating system performance WindowsXP, Vista is eclipsed. Network traffic monitoring agency NetApplications expects Vista's share of the operating system market to be only 18.6%, which is the lowest assessment of the survey's market share for Vista. Other market research companies believe that Vista's market share is about 35%, and this figure is still low. Annette Jump, director of research at Gartner, a market research firm, points out that in the enterprise market, "Vista is the operating system with the lowest usage rate." Jean-PhilippeCourtois, president of Microsoft International Business also implicitly admitted: "we are not optimistic about the situation for the use of Vista."
Windows rebirth
Windows7 is a Microsoft, and perhaps the only chance to save their own. All Microsoft executives have repeatedly said, "We have learned a lot from Vista's mistakes." Windows7 is an operating system that was released on time and less than three years after the launch of Vista. Vista has repeatedly delayed the release of the two-year period. Users who originally used Windows 7 said it was a fast, stable, secure and easy-to-use operating system. Most importantly, Microsoft avoided the biggest mistake on Vista in Windows 7: not letting partners prepare for Vista.
Courtois pointed out: "Windows ecosystem is the world's most widely used business ecosystem, we must be taken seriously." Microsoft's partners are paying attention to this change, senior vice president of Dell's consumer products Alex Alex Gruzen said: "Compared with Vista, the preparation of Windows7 has been greatly improved. In the past, Microsoft regarded its operating system as a stand-alone product and did not provide any cooperation or help to the vendors. But now, Microsoft work together with manufacturers to help identify which third-party products cause the system to run slow, and help them improve code "
Microsoft said:." efforts have been made to improve the compatibility of Windows7. " When the company launched Vista's first service pack, there were fewer than 2,700 Vista-certified applications. But when Windows 7 was introduced, it had soared to 8,500 certified applications. In addition, if users want to continue using the old software on their computers, Microsoft also provides a "compatibility tool" that allows users to run the first applications developed for Windows 95.
Windows7 resource consumption is better than Vista, there is no need too much computing resources, old computer can also easily install and run the operating system. ChrisPage, who has configured Windows 7 for nearly 700 computers in the Warwick County School of the United Kingdom, said: "Our PC has continued for two years." He pointed out that only one used 5 Years of laptops cannot install Windows 7.
time
but now is the right time to launch operating systems? Although some countries have already emerged from recession, investment remains weak and consumers remain pessimistic about employment prospects. But the current point in time may be Microsoft's most important asset. Market research firm ForresterCEO George Koroni (GeorgeColony) that: "Technology will always be one step ahead than the economy out of recession."
technology industry analyst firm IDC pointed out that despite the economic downturn, but the growth rate of IT investment Still more than twice as high as most economies, and there are still some growth points in the consumer sector, especially in the low-energy netbook market. Although you can't install Vista, your netbook runs smoothly on Windows 7. Richard Huddy, AMD's European public relations manager, believes that the launch of Windows 7 will create an "upgrade boom". In addition, "we also see that the economy is beginning to emerge from recession on a global scale." Hedi said: "Windows7 energy efficiency is more prominent than Vista fact means that the operating system is also suitable for low-cost PC, so you can say with certainty that we are raising optimism for the future. "the bottom line
grid Recklessness also holds the same optimism, and many companies are still using old computers that should be eliminated at least a year ago. He said: "At present, there are some optimistic views expressed, the computer upgrade cycle will begin next year, Windows7 is an important driver of the operating system is the best catalyst to upgrade the computer."
digital world The ever-changing is also driving change, consumers and corporate computer users are increasingly using mobile devices, but Windows XP is very lacking in this aspect. To change this situation, Microsoft has said it will no longer support Windows XP from April 2014. Stephen Kleynhans, vice president of research at Gartner, points out that even if Microsoft extends support for Windows XP, most support of third-party software will be off, he said:. "this will upgrade to Windows7 bring further pressure"
in addition, Windows7 enterprise product manager Stella Cheney Senanayake (StellaChernyak) According to the accountants who participated in the Windows 7 test, such as the accounting firm Baker Tilly and the Miami City government, Windows 7 support and energy costs have dropped significantly, and work efficiency has improved significantly. Since Microsoft has been releasing Windows 7 updates and upgrades in recent times, Gartner's Clayhans also advises companies not to configure the Windows 7 operating system after waiting for SP1 to be released. Crayhans expects: "Enterprises will adopt Windows 7 faster than previous operating systems."
same competition is more cautious in Gartner, Jia Mupu views, although companies "really have to" upgrade to Windows7, to avoid the old equipment support costs increased, but the "expected Windows 7 will not drive PC sales growth." In addition, competitor Google will not launch the lightweight operating system ChromeOS before the middle of next year, and it will help Microsoft to launch Windows7 at this time. This time difference is enough for Microsoft to lay the netbook market. A solid foundation.
Another favorable factor is that, in addition to a competitor Apple's latest operating system "Snow Leopard" (SnowLeopard) unexpectedly hiatus, though not as bad as Vista, but enough to make Microsoft focused exclusively Released Windows 7. Final victory
Windows Microsoft senior staff Courtois said: "In my memory, only when Windows95 released a new operating system for people full of passion." AMD's Hedi said: "Windows 7 implements everything promised in Vista, and even surpasses it." Dell's Grubert believes that Windows 7 is "very good."
these statements may be somewhat exaggerated, Garnter analyst Jia Mupu think, Windows7 only "optimized version of Vista." But most of the comments on the operating system are more optimistic, Heddy said: "The truth is, this is an operating system that I have not seen anyone criticize, which means that the operating system is indeed extraordinary and stable. "
but only by an operating system, does not change the fundamental threat to Microsoft's business model faces. Crayhans believes: "In the next few years, more computing will shift to browser-based applications, Java, Silverlight, Flash and .Net, etc. This will limit the advantages of Windows, and these advantages are what drive users to adopt Windows. factor. "
if Microsoft is just the fate maintain on Windows7, then this is probably the last company a successful operating system.