With reports that Windows 7 broke records for its pre-order release, beating out Harry Potter on Amazon, it makes you wonder what all the fuss is about. I have to be upfront and say that I am an unbiased Mac user, and with that said, I will move along and say, I think Windows has A LOT to prove with the release of Windows 7.
While, Mac does have a big piece of the pie, Apple users tend to forget that Apple has a long way to go to even be tied with the market share that Windows has, since it only holds roughly 10% of the OS (Operating System) market share. However, it is Mac that is gaining market share over the past few years and that is primarily due to (1) The Intel-based Mac which provides the ability to run Windows and Mac OS in the same box and (2) the growing recognition that all Apple hardware products are more elegant and just work better i.e. more reliable, more stable, etc.
Windows 7‘s new user interface is centered by Aero Peek, which makes every open window transparent, excluding the one currently in use. This gives Windows 7 an entire new look and feel minimizing the need to maximize and minimize.
Gizmodo’s Review:
Windows XP was a great OS in its day. Windows Vista, once it found its feet several months in, was a good OS. With Windows 7, the OS is great again. It’s what people said they wanted out of Windows: Solid, more nimble and the easiest, prettiest Windows yet. There’s always a chance this won’t be a huge hit come October, given the economy and the state of the PC industry, but it’s exactly what Microsoft needs right now. Something people can grab without fear.
Engadget’s Review:
Where Vista felt like a sprawling mess, Windows 7 has patched up the holes and feels like a tight, unified mechanism. It’s hardly full of surprises, but that’s usually a good thing when it comes to operating systems. If you’ve never been a Windows person, there’s hardly anything here that will change your mind about that. However, most human beings on this planet have some sort of interaction with Windows on a regular basis, whether by choice or necessity, and Windows 7 is great news for those millions of souls.
Premium vs. Budget
As to be expected with the comparison between Mac & PC some feel that the price of Mac is way too high for many to switch over, and I feel that it is very likely that if most users are happy with Windows 7 many other users will opt-out for the cheaper computer this Christmas instead of the more flashy and expensive one. On the flipside, you have comments about the amount of money spent when a computer crashes from viruses, or software spent to protect computers with Windows operating systems.
So, while Apple pokes fun at Microsoft, and it seems to be true that “once you go Mac, you never go back,” it also seems to be the consensus that Windows 7 is a much needed improvement from the nightmare many users had with Vista and will be a reinforcement for users that are watching their budgets, but need an improvement.
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Operating systems will never be ‘user foolproof’. Whether you use a Mac or Windows 7, if you’re not in IT you should invest in some computer training to get the best out your hardware and software.