Microsoft says Windows 7 doing well so far
By Dan Nystedt
November 4, 2009 07:43 AM ET
IDG News Service - Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system has been doing well in the market since it launched nearly two weeks ago, Microsoft executives said Wednesday.
"We've heard positive things from our partners," said Steve Guggenheimer, vice president for OEM sales at Microsoft, on the sidelines of a news conference in Taipei. He said it's too early to say what Windows 7 sales look like.
The much anticipated OS went to market on Oct. 22, installed in a range of desktop and laptop PCs. Manufacturers around the world had been working overtime to ready devices for the launch.
But the global recession has caused people to question how Windows 7 sales have been since the launch. Growth has returned to many countries, including a 3.5 percent increase in third quarter GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in the U.S., but many economists say a full recovery will take time.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said the new OS will take over quickly among consumers, while in businesses he expects steady growth. "The overall response to Windows 7 has been positive," he said during a news conference.