Windows 7 is Coming out of the Box
Windows 7’s release means more than just a new OS in the computing world. Microsoft through Windows 7 had created a paradigm shift – a break away from a long tradition since the invention of the PC. It has made a significant change in the never ending hardware upgrade cycle that occurs every time a new OS is introduced in the market. Microsoft had always been in its toes coming up with ways on how to make use of newly introduced innovations by PC vendors like Intel.
What is this paradigm shift and how did it happen? This article intends to explain in detail this observation. Hoping that by doing so, PC users would appreciate more the new image Windows 7 is trying to project in the computing arena.
Looking back in the past …
Whether we accept this or not, Windows 7 came out at a time when Microsoft needs a big major push. In fact, the launching of Windows 7 confirmed this assertion. Windows 7 with its powerfully enhanced features is a silent acknowledgment somehow on Microsoft’s behalf of the failure they had committed out of Vista. For the past two years and a half, Microsoft had gropingly tried to cover all the gaping holes Vista had created in terms of performance issues and hardware compatibility. If one will be keen enough to notice the introduction of Vista is a complete overhaul in their lineup of past OSes – the very same reason that brought Vista down to its knees. The high level of hardware requirements of Vista had taken toll on its performance; leaving a lot of disgruntled users who cannot cope with the resource intensive Vista. In short, this can be the scenario that triggered the sudden shift.
Presently now…
Looking back at Microsoft’s history and comparing now the present situation wherein Windows 7’s requirements are slightly lower than those required to run Vista. This strikes us with the plain truth that Windows 7 tends to run better on the same hardware configuration as a Vista PC. Windows 7 now becomes the very first OS that does not require more hardware resources than the version before; a completely new trend being introduced by the Microsoft camp. Very subtle and convincing, Microsoft had made the change happen.
Future Implications…
Microsoft’s stance to become customer driven instead of being pulled by the strings of PC vendors is a revelation indeed. With this breaking of link on the upgrade cycle between the OS and hardware, small hardware vendors will eventually close shop giving way to a monopoly of a few giant vendors within the next ten years. On the part of Intel, more innovations beyond the PC CPU had to be developed to cope with the ability to maintain a market’s demand for faster and smaller microprocessors. As for Microsoft, it has to maintain the balance between its OEM division and the newly recovered image brought about by Windows 7’s changes. Lastly, the greatest bulk of benefits will go to the PC end users, surprisingly thought it may seem, but Microsoft intends to make everything usable for PC users this time around. Perhaps after two to three years, we will know if this trend is here to stay or just a ‘one time fad’ of Microsoft.
As for now, eyebrows will continue to raise as more speculations will come as the new PC market dynamics brought about by Windows 7 is slowly fitting in. Whatever implications or consequences that may arise out of this new trend, definitely it is for the better – at least seeing it from a user’s perspective.
Related posts
Filed under: Windows 7 Reviews, Windows 7 Software