Windows 7: Meh

I have long ago stopped paying attention to Windows releases from Microsoft. While it's true that every version does add new functionality, almost none of it is so striking that it's worth more than brief attention. Windows 7 is no different, no matter what short-term impact it might have on the PC market.

For me, Windows is simply there; I need it to make my PCs function. That's all. The only time I notice it is when it breaks or makes it difficult for me to do something that is urgent. Those are negative points, not positives. There are many positives in its continuously-improving features, it's just that those features are of the type: well of course they did this, and, what took them so long. This covers everything from uPnP and auto-update to driver availability and TCP/IP support.

None of it makes an impression on users since this is at best nothing more than keeping up with Apple and Linux, or trying to keep user hostility under control due to failures, poor usability and high cost. Few users love Windows; they simply need it in their daily lives. Most don't switch to Mac or Linux since it isn't worth the bother, learning curve, or perhaps the non-availability of the applications to which they are accustomed or need.

Pretty icons and translucent surfaces are very pretty but are not selling points. Most of the applications that are familiar to users -- Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook, etc. -- are not part of Windows, and are only noteworthy in the context of Windows since many of these are not available on other platforms. Competitors don't restrict themselves in this way since such a policy only reduces their potential market. For Microsoft, the only advantage, although it is an important one, is that once these applications are loaded up with your address books, archived emails, bookmarks and so forth, make switching costs high. In marketing speak this is known as stickiness.

Of course, that is why competing products make it easy to import user data and documents from Microsoft applications. Microsoft has fought this in the past with hidden APIs and non-disclosed data formats. This secrecy has declined remarkably over the years as Microsoft has battled anti-trust charges in the US and Europe.

When I purchase my next PC I will be buying Windows 7 as well. It's included in the price and it's already installed. That is simplicity itself. The thing is, if it were to instead come with XP or Vista I would be equally happy. For Microsoft this is a problem that in the long run is certain to bite them.