Microsoft scores big with early Windows 7 sales

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    Microsoft scores big with early Windows 7 sales


    Posted: 05 Nov 2009
    Microsoft scores big with early Windows 7 sales

    'Pretty good,' says analyst, but deep discounts on pre-orders cut into revenue

    By Gregg Keizer
    November 5, 2009 02:44 PM ET

    Computerworld - Microsoft sold over three times more copies of Windows 7 in the week surrounding the Oct. 22 launch than it did Vista during its opening days in 2007, a retail marketing research analyst said today.

    For the week of Oct. 18-24, and including the large numbers of pre-orders that Microsoft and online retailers took starting last June, Windows 7 unit sales were 234% higher than Vista's in its first days in January 2007, said Stephen Baker, an analyst with the NPD Group.

    "I would call it pretty good," Baker said, "but I wouldn't call it great."

    Baker said that expectations for Windows 7 were even higher than its actual performance, but the tough economy and retailers' reluctance to give up on either Windows XP or Vista created what he called a "headwind" for Microsoft's new operating system.

    "The fact of the matter is that prior to the launch, there were a lot of operating systems out there," Baker said. "When Vista launched, you didn't see a lot of Windows Millennium PCs," he said, referring to the edition that preceded Windows XP. "Windows 7 will be more of a long haul."

    More retailers kept computers powered by Windows XP or Vista on their shelves in the days just before, and also after, Windows 7 launch, explained Baker. "We didn't see the precipitous decline in inventory that we saw before Vista. Then, retailers were 'cleaner,' they didn't have really anything available except for Vista. But now, netbook sales made it easier for retailers to carry inventory with XP up to Windows 7's launch."

    While unit sales of Windows 7 were up dramatically over Vista's early numbers, the new operating system brought in a less-than-stellar 82% revenue increase over Vista.
    More at: Microsoft scores big with early Windows 7 sales
    Night Hawk's Avatar Posted By: Night Hawk
    05 Nov 2009



  1. Posts : 33
    Windows 7 Premium Retail
       #1

    I bet it is cutting into sales. I bought a new computer for college least year and it had Vista pre-installed and took me a week to set it up the way I wanted. I finally was able to manage vista but never really liked it.

    I was able to buy the STUDENT upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 Home Premium for 29.99$

    And this is one of the few times I think Microsoft gave us a break. All Vista users got a discount but I believe ALL vista users should have got this super low discount. Not just students.

    If you are a U.S.A. college student and have any version of Vista you can buy the Windows 7 upgrade for only 29.99$ until Jan 2, 2010. So be sure to find that link at their support site.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 33
    Windows 7 Premium Retail
       #2

    Oh I should add: The only way you can get the upgrade to 7 as a student is if you have an Official .edu email address from an accredited United States College.

    You will have to apply at the official Microsoft site and then get an email that directs you to an official dealer for the offer. If your college doesn't meet the requirements you will receive an email denying you the offer. Otherwise you receive an email within two days and just follow the link and purchase.

    If you do not have an official .edu email from an accredited college don't try this.
      My Computer


  3. Lee
    Posts : 1,796
    Win 7 Pro x64, VM Win XP, Win7 Pro Sandbox, Kubuntu 11
       #3

    "I would call it pretty good," Baker said, "but I wouldn't call it great."

    234% isn't enough. Darn, what does it take to impress this author.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Your guesses are as good as mine on that one!

    The initial reaction to Vista was balmy while 7 is becoming a super star among the various versions of Windows all the way back. A 234% sales spike above that seen with the previous version shows right off that 7 is being well received!
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 1,487
    Windows 7 x64 / Same
       #5

    Good. I hope the market share of Mac OS goes back to 5% or less.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 3,960
    W7 x64
       #6

    Haven't Microsoft laid off circa six thousand employees this year?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,487
    Windows 7 x64 / Same
       #7

    Qdos said:
    Haven't Microsoft laid off circa six thousand employees this year?
    Yes. 5,000 earlier this year and rumors are 800 will go in the next month or so.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Cutbacks are being seen "everywhere" not just with MS. The last slump like this was seen back in 1983. This was one of the main reasons why the introductory prices on 7 have been quite a bit less then those seen for Vista back in 2007.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 159
    Windows Vista Business / Windows 7 Ultimate
       #9

    What the fail to mention is that Vista sales outpaced XP sales for the same launch timeframe comparison they are making with vista and 7. So Vista sales werent exactly bad, and 7 sales are nearly 3 times that.....id say thats pretty darn good, especially given the economic climate.
      My Computer


 
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