Why so little buzz surrounding Windows 7?

[echrada]

When Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) does something funky -- like CEO Steve Ballmer's infamous Monkey Dance -- the press can't get enough of it. Yet when the folks in Redmond act inspired, the publicity is apparently somewhat sparser. That sure seems to be the case surrounding Windows 7. My early tests of the operating system, which will succeed Vista in about a year, indicate that it's a solid, high-performing, great-looking platform. So why aren't we hearing more about it?

True, my complaint is highly subjective. If you ask Microsoft, they'd say they are beating the hustings for Windows 7. (Microsoft has an Engineering Windows 7 blog, though it hasn't been updated in half a month. The Windows Team blog and Welcome to WIndows 7 are even sparser.) However, if you think back to Vista, it's clear that Microsoft is taking a much quieter (viral, perhaps?) approach toward its OS proselytizing efforts. (Once burned, twice shy?)

I suspect part of Microsoft's reticence has to do with the fact that they haven't yet set a firm launch date for Windows 7. So, without a target at the end of the runway, it's hard for the software behemoth's public-relations corps to stage the roll out.

I further suspect that the reason Microsoft hasn't picked a drop date has little to do with the technological readiness of Windows 7. (In point of fact, the pre-beta of Windows 7 is more solid than the initial release of Vista, as well it should be since it builds on the experience of the latter.) Rather, Windows 7's release is likely dependent on the economy. Microsoft isn't going to launch what might be its best OS ever in the midst of a PC-upgrade-killing recession. I'm betting that the Redmond brain trust is hoping things will ease up in time for next December's Christmas shopping season, where Windows 7 could spark the kind of computer buying spree Microsoft dreamed of for Vista.

Still, there is hope for Windows 7 fans. The official beta of the OS is expected in January. (My tests were on the pre-beta, which was released at Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference in October.) I expect that there will be a renewed round of buzz once the beta hits.

Why So Little Buzz Surrounding Windows 7? - Wolfe's Den Blog - InformationWeek

 

[z3r010]

I think that guy should sort his google alerts out as I'm seeing lots of buzz.

 

[JerzeyLegend]

Very true. Vista took a big chunk of Microsoft soul. It was one of those operating systems that should have never made it out of beta. I agree, Windows 7 at this point in time is, in my own words, "Devine". It is the best Windows OS I have ever used. I won't go into details. Windows Seven will perhaps be the platform which will raise Microsoft into the spotlight once again.
The buzz will come soon, the absence could just be a omen of things to come. Too busy to blog? Too busy to give us some news feed? Only time will tell.
I am not a fortune teller. However, I think Seven will be THE OS to end them all. Look out Apple. PCs are on the rise.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hey; they don't need to say anything; we're saying it all for them....


















Later Ted

 

[garysgold]

Seems to be plenty of 'buzz' for an OS that is months away from production. The more they hype 7 now, the less Vista sales there will be and they certainly don't want that.

Gary

 

[johngalt]

Dude ain't been looking in the right places - but, then again, Longhorn was in the news (at least the news that *I* read - then again, I don't do mainstream news as much as I like living ion the (cutting) edge....) a lot more than W7 has been thus far, and I think W7 is *definitely* a product that can speak for itself - no ad campaigns needed.

 

[Adamd]

Very true. Vista took a big chunk of Microsoft soul. It was one of those operating systems that should have never made it out of beta. I agree, Windows 7 at this point in time is, in my own words, "Devine". It is the best Windows OS I have ever used. I won't go into details. Windows Seven will perhaps be the platform which will raise Microsoft into the spotlight once again.
The buzz will come soon, the absence could just be a omen of things to come. Too busy to blog? Too busy to give us some news feed? Only time will tell.
I am not a fortune teller. However, I think Seven will be THE OS to end them all. Look out Apple. PCs are on the rise.

I hope this is true!!!!

I would love to see 7 as the ultimate OS!

 

[DiamondNRG]

Seems to be plenty of 'buzz' for an OS that is months away from production. The more they hype 7 now, the less Vista sales there will be and they certainly don't want that.

Gary

Not to mention they over-hyped Vista and look what happened. Hype is good as long as you deliver better than you hyped. I say wait for the release then hype it hard and fast and make sure it delivers.

 

[darkassain]

there is also the point that sometimes you cant control the hype givinen to a certain product....
the only one way to minimize the hype is to say nothing at all

 

[Yoder54]

Why no hype about Windows 7? Many reasons.

What makes Windows 7 so unique among operating systems? All the media focuses on are screen shots, and how it compares to Vista...and then they ask "is it just another Vista?" The media has not offered much to the public regarding Win 7 either because Microsoft has not fed them anything worth writing about, or maybe there just isn't anything worth writing about.

Look at the competition by the Bay...they are ahead of schedule and they are releasing something truly unique, powerful, and a truly beautiful OS for those who like power computing. They get billions in free advertising just because their products generate press. When Vista generated press in the early days, it was all negative. Below are three articles from various media, but I have read the same all over the net and many on PC sites.

CNET
Wired
http://www.appleinsider.com/article...tandard_near_complete_in_just_six_months.htmlInsider

Then we have the consumer, of which I am one. I have been a loyal MS user since 1983, and not once have I ever pirated any MS software. I have always purchased with great excitement the latest releases. I was the first on the block to get Word 2007 and just went goo-goo over it. All was fine until Vista was released. Don't get me wrong, I love the interface. But, I do feel that I was had when I purchased it.

When I bought my new box last year, I was trying to decide between 32-bit or 64-bit. I had read that with the purchase of Vista came with both versions. The vendor did not tell me, nor was it ever stated on the site that I was purchasing an OEM...I was not even aware of what OEM was a year ago. I was convinced by the vendor to go with 32-bit since there were few drivers available for the 64-bit, and I assumed I could migrate to 32-bit latter. So I went with 32-bit. (For fun, go to a major computer vendors site and try to find out about OEM or if you are even purchasing such.)

Now I want 64-bit. But, guess what? I have to buy it. I cannot even sell my Win XP Pro since it is OEM, to finance the purchase of the 64-bit OS. So, I am stuck with an OS that I do not want. I want my 64-bit!

The problems for the consumer were/are many. Microsoft offers far too many versions. They should offer Business and Ultimate, and they should only offer 64-bit. Furthermore, they should release software only when it is ready to be released. The Vista release was a marketing disaster/fiasco. Then there is the pricing...MS has far too many price points. There should only be two prices for the two versions...excluding bulk and educational, etc. Granted the other guys sell hardware also, but you can get a new OS for $129 and a five pack for $159. Best yet, you get 64-bit and don't have to make choices. You only have one choice over there.

Then there are the ads. How can you expect to generate hype with ads like "I am a PC" or "Mojave?" Come one folks, the ads embarrassed me. Almost makes me ashamed to admit that I use Vista and love it. Let the product sell itself. You have a loyal following, so loyal that you do not have to stoop to trash advertising. Use the money to cut the prices...what was Seinfeld paid?...or put it back into R&D.

Also, cut the OEM. Give the consumer full rights to what he buys. Charge him in full, but at least let him do with it what he wants once he buys it.

Want to generate hype? Get rid of the OEM, and offer Business and Ultimate only in 64-bit versions and you will generate hype, and free advertising to boot. You have to do something new. Offer the Windows users something they have never experienced before...that is how you get press/hype.

The Vista fiasco set MS back more than they think I believe. No longer do we look forward to the increased speed and efficiency since we saw what the promise brought with the release of Vista. MS should change their strategy this time, and then get back to the speed/efficiency sell with the next major release...then we will be more willing to buy into it.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Yoder54, welcome to Se7en Forums.

You're right about the OEM problems but that's the manufactures (HP, Gateway) doing not MS's. Too many people point the blame at MS when they don't deserve it. I for one will be buying a full retail 64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate as soon as it becomes available.














Later :shock: Ted

 

[johngalt]

No - making the OEM license *only* available to OEMs makes sense - making it available to System Builders does not.

 

[Yoder54]

No - making the OEM license *only* available to OEMs makes sense - making it available to System Builders does not.

But the consumer is duped by the OEMs. I would bet that 90% or more of all computers buyers are not aware of the difference between OEM and full retail version. Should they know? I don't think so. When people buy a computer they buy under the pretense of buying functionality, most are not even aware of all of the Intellectual Copyrights...but, I think most know that they cannot copy software and distribute it. Try explaining to gramps how that OEM OS that he paid $160 for is not really his...he cannot sell it when his box is destroyed by ligtenening, nor can he legally install it on a new computer while the old one sits in the dump.

@Barefoot Kid: The problem is that if I wanted to buy a full retail version from a vendor such as HP, I do not think I could. So, the full retail version is basically available only to those who build their machines and those who want to install it on an older machine. So how is it possible for the average non-geek consumer to get a new hotdog computer with a full retail version OS?

I like to think that MS has some control of how it licenses its OS. They could pull the OEM from the list of possibilities if they wanted to. What MS should do is provide OEM software to system builders who want it, and to those firms who build in-house. The consumer should be charged for, and given a full retail version anytime they buy a new box.

Or, let the consumer choose between an OEM or full retail version.

 

[johngalt]

I would also bet that 90% of those 90% don't give a rat's derriere. When they need a new computer they'll go buy a new computer with another OS on it - they won't care about keeping their current OS or anything like that unless they keep the entire computer....

And Ol Gramps would not care as he would buy a *new* machine with a new OS on it - the old one could rot for all he cared.

As for getting a new hotdog computer *and* retail OS - buy both.

I *seriously* doubt that an OEM is going to discount the retail price of an OS - very very little incentive for them to do so, even if they did offer them - so why worry about it? If you don't want to invest the time to build your system, local shops can build one for you. If you prefer to buy a machine from a large scale manufacturer like HP or Dell, go out and buy a separate OS if you think you're going to want to sell it later....

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

@Barefoot Kid: The problem is that if I wanted to buy a full retail version from a vendor such as HP, I do not think I could. So, the full retail version is basically available only to those who build their machines and those who want to install it on an older machine. So how is it possible for the average non-geek consumer to get a new hotdog computer with a full retail version OS?

Hello again.

I started with an HP media center, right at a year ago; that came pre-loaded with Vista 32-bit Home Premium. It no longer even closely resembles the machine I started out with. The first thing I did was take it from 3GB of RAM to 4GB; then I added a video card and upgraded the power supply. Then about two weeks ago I added a second 500GB HDD. Last week I Upgraded to Vista 64-bit Ultimate. Today actually; I just purchased 8GB of RAM to add to it (the max the mobo will run) and that will be added when it arrives this coming week.

Now all that wasn't meant to be "all about me" but it was meant to show that these additions are possible with some know how; and if you don't have that, as I didn't when I started, spend time around these forums and ask questions, as I have and do your homework. These things aren't really that hard to do. I'm well aware Rome wasn't built in a day; it has taken me a year to get here from there.

If you never start though, you'll never arrive.


Later Ted

 

[darkassain]

I would also bet that 90% of those 90% don't give a rat's derriere. When they need a new computer they'll go buy a new computer with another OS on it - they won't care about keeping their current OS or anything like that unless they keep the entire computer....

i completely agree 100% on this one
(from now on i will refer endusers as regular users meaning with no techincal expertise...)


the enduser wont care as long as it works and does what he wants...
to them speed is a relative term meaning if they can play their favorite videos(HD or not) if they can be protected (unobtrusive AV/FW) and at the same time have a few IE tabs (if they updated to 7 or to the 8 beta (very very unlikely) and remember we are talking about endusers...
as long as it works and works well they dont care if Windows included Hyper-V (just thought of it)
they will eventually care but right now only people that actually know what Hyper-V is and what it does (i believe all in this forum know... ) will actually use it....
just my opinion.....

 

[echrada]

You are quire right, normal end users , as I call them, just want it to work. They do not really know or care what goes on inside.