Microsoft today said code for its Windows 7 operating system has been finalized, allowing PC manufacturers and retail stores to prepare for the Oct. 22 product launch.
The Oct. 22 launch date was publicly announced quite some time ago, but Microsoft said there could be delays depending on any last-minute code issues. Analysts and industry experts said Microsoft must ensure Windows 7 is available prior to Christmas, as PC makers and software companies prepare for what will hopefully be a busy shopping season.
Microsoft must now spend the coming months convincing both PC users and businesses why they need to upgrade to Windows 7 when it's released this fall. All companies that have long-term contract agreements with Microsoft should be able to begin using Windows 7 before the end of August.
Even though Windows 7 looks like a more user-friendly, reliable OS than Windows Vista, Microsoft's latest OS is launching during a very turbulent time in the PC industry. Manufacturers are expecting to see PC shipments fall for the first time in eight years, and a recent survey indicates most businesses will likely skip a Windows 7 upgrade.
Windows 7, based largely on Vista, has drastic improvements and new features that make the OS perform significantly better than Vista. Furthermore, it also boots up and shuts down faster than Vista, and runs decently on low-end PCs and netbooks. In contrast, many systems with lower-end hardware or less RAM didn't have the necessary resources to run Vista.
Are you interested in upgrading to Windows 7 on Oct. 22? Will you skip this upgrade or wait until 2010?
