And so it begins: On Tuesday, online retailing giant Amazon.com began shipping its Windows 7 preorders to customers around the globe for delivery on Thursday. But Amazon also had some good news to share with the world: Windows 7 is already a bestseller, and its preorders are stronger than the preorders for both Windows Vista and Windows XP... combined.
Amazon UK representatives were even more effusive than their US counterparts. "The launch of Windows 7 has superseded everyone's expectations, storming ahead of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the biggest-grossing preorder product of all time at Amazon.co.uk, and demand is still going strong," said Brian McBride, a managing director at Amazon UK. "Over the past three months, only Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol has sold more copies than Windows 7, which is an incredible achievement for a software product."
And compared with just its direct predecessor—the unfairly maligned Vista—Windows 7 is an even bigger smash hit: Amazon says it sold more copies of Windows 7 preorders in three weeks than it sold of Vista over three years.
As of today, Amazon and other retailers are offering literally hundreds of Windows 7-based PCs for sale. The ranks include about 30 netbook models from Acer, Asus Dell, HP, Lenovo, Sony, Toshiba, and many others. They're offered with a mix of Windows 7 Starter and Home Premium.
These are all incredibly positive signs for Microsoft and the wider PC industry, of course. But for all its positive reviews and user-friendly features, Windows 7 is entering the market at a tough time. There are still uncertainties about the economy, and many people are switching to cloud- and smart-phone-based solutions; both trends make traditional desktop OSes less viable.
That said, PC makers should still ship almost 300 million PCs over the next 12 months. And let's not forget that, even in Microsoft's most trying fiscal year, Windows accounted for almost $15 billion in revenues, $11 billion of which was pure profit. For all the silly hand-wringing over Windows, it's still a cash cow. And Windows 7 is the best version the company's ever produced, by far.
I'll be in New York this week for the Windows 7 launch, so you can expect ongoing coverage on the SuperSite for Windows and the SuperSite Blog. And if you're in New York this week, please come by the Antarctica Bar in Manhattan after 5:30pm on Thursday, where I'll be co-hosting a Windows 7 launch party with prominent Windows community members such as Ed Bott, Mary Jo Foley, and Tom Warren. See you in New York!
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There has just been a debate on the most popular national radio station here in the UK about Mac V. PC. The debate got quite interesting with strong support on either side.
Whilst a winner was not declared, (This is the BBC after all) what is most telling is that there was a debate about this at all. What this means is that Apple has increased its presence in the public eye, which is obviously great for Apple and very dangerous for Microsoft.
Fore those ignorant of the Mac, the brilliance of first the iPod and latterly the iPhone have opened the public's eyes as to how great software and hardware combined can be.
When the iTablet debuts, this effect will only be magnified.
People are beginning to realise that they have a choice and that choice doesn't automatically have to default to Microsoft.
Preorders in the UK greater than that for Harry Potter...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/microsoft/6397608/Microsoft-Windows-7-bigger-than-Harry-Potter-says-Amaz
on.html
@infinitetroll:
"Nevertheless my point still stands and the Mac is more capable than any PC."
Translation:
"Nevertheless, I'm going to ignore facts and common sense (despite my constant urge to claim other people wrong) and stick with my original false assertion that a Mac is more capable than any PC."
@jersey72:
Nevertheless my point still stands and the Mac is more capable than any PC.
I personally am pleased that windows 7 is a good release, although I will never use it myself.
With the resources and programming talent that Microsoft undoubtedly have, any software they 'unleash' as Paul invariably puts it, should be innovative, exciting and a pleasure to use.
Unfortunately, this is rarely the case, and is why the typical Mac Fanboi as you WinJihadists put it, rebuff Microsoft.
Fact is, most of the time what they achieve is insecure,derivative, confused and ill-thought through.
Their Hardware is clunky and mostly a joke, yet people put up with it.
Sadly, the main problem with Microsoft is that they have no 'taste'.
Windows 7 seems to be off to a good start, but the questions is whether it will hold up. Paul's headline is a bit misleading, as this is only for Amazon.
@Christopher
Alienware makes some pretty slick-looking machines & they're good quality (full disclosure: I have one & love the thing, although it was costly).
"Macs can run Windows and OSX. PC's cannot. FACT."
Actually, you can run OS X on non-Mac hardware when you defeat Apple's deliberate limitations. This has nothing to do with capability. A Mac technically cannot run more software than PC. They both use x86 processors, so they both can run the same software.
@guruguru
And with Windows 7 being the most compatible version of Windows yet, as a Windows user myself, I would like humbly welcome any Apple fanboy back into the fold of the faithful.. We hold no grudges here amongst the righteous. :)
Welcome home Mac users - you finally have a good excuse to return. The prodigal sons and daughters are returning for certain!
I bet in 1 month it will outsell all OSX point upgrades combined. contrast this to apple struggling with their OSX -vista aka snow leopard losing user data randomly and full of compatibility issues and bugs. hey even apple fans are revolting. They should just switch or stay with leopard for another 2 years.
IMO apple should use all that money they budget for anti-windows ads to fix their os intead...and maybe MS make a commercial with the apple guy sitting on a pile of cash like the old apple ad.
No a fact is a fact.
Macs can run Windows and OSX. PC's cannot. FACT.
Get over it.
@techman.merb:
I suppose you'd say something similar about BMW.
You're so out of touch.
@infiniteloop ...
I love how you trash PC hardware when Macs run on exactly the same hardware these days, within limits of course. There's a lot a harware available for PC users that is not available for Mac fans. Other than the cosmetics like the aluminum enclosure that really gives me the creeps because it looks so sterile and boring like something out of a bad sci-fi movie, Mac hardware is no better or worse than PC.
And you're right about people having a choice...they can choose to buy a PC and have endless choices of software and games and even money left over to go out for a really nice dinner or maybe a weekend away, Or they can buy a Mac and spend the weekend admiring it's sterile beauty.
@infinitetroll:
You seem to be getting a bit riled up over all of this. You know, there are decaffeinated brands on the market that are just as good as the real thing.
"No a fact is a fact"
Let's go back over the facts here. Stated just above a link to CNet review "Bet you're going to call this fact false too:". You're the one stating that a review is a fact, not me.
But if it would make you feel better if I gave Apple credit for having a closed, proprietary system that doesn't allow their OS to run on any other hardware, one that wouldn't make it through day one of an antitrust trial if they had anything more than a marginal marketshare, then sure - I'll give them full props for that. Well done, Apple. Well done.
bravo!
can i borrow your alienware case for my halloween costume?
joking!
:D
"Welcome home Mac users - you finally have a good excuse to return."
That's what the WinJihadists said about XP. And Vista. They were wrong then, and they're wrong now. You just don't get it.
I love it. The Mac fanboys go on and on about how Windows is crumbling. Thanks to Amazon, reality comes back and slaps them back to the sobering abyss of reality.
Windows 7 is going to be huge. My family members are already looking to make future purchases of 7.
Let the Mac fanboys enjoy "Snow-Vista." I've already read accounts from 20 Macintosh owners running Windows 7. Assimilation by proxy. Thanks Steve Jobs!
I can't wait for all those supersite Mac fanboys to get their panties in a bunch as Windows 7 takes flight. I'm already laughing at their comments already. I'm laughing at their superior intellect.
@jersey72:
How is my assertion false that a Mac can run more software than a PC?
THIS IS A FACT.
Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's false.
Bet you're going to call this fact false too:
http://reviews.cnet.com/2722-19589_7-314.html
Enjoy.
@techman.merb:
Not exactly the same hardware at all. Same components perhaps, but definitely not the same implementations.
The thing you're forgetting however, is that with a Mac you can slum it with Windows if you really must.
Most Macs run Windows better than most P.C.s
Therefore you can run ALL the software available, moreso than on a P.C.
"The prodigal sons and daughters are returning for certain!"
Uh, I think not. Apple and their products are still seen as a status symbol. Most of their customers buy due to it being trendy. Sure you have the loyal graphic artists and education markets, but that's getting to be a smaller piece of their overall pie. They are largely a marketing brand, which is pretty much the same reason that Rolex costs twice as much as other swiss watches, even though they're both assembly line made with similar parts. For example, the biggest buyers of iPods used to be teenagers. Do you seriously think they give *any* thought besides image? I'm pretty certain there isn't one teenager on the entire planet who would comparison shop for their first car and pour through consumer magazines for reliability.
Until Microsoft releases a product that appeals to vanity, they won't be getting any of the share that Apple has gained for any of their products. I suspect that they get most of their sales because of the chassis, only sometimes the contents. And the reality is that absolutely no one can prove me wrong since there have been *no* sexy win mobile devices, or distinct Windows 7 PCs, etc, with hundred million dollar campaigns behind them.
Generally PC makers sell something like 20-30 different prominent different form factors (discrete chassis), so they never both advertising one of them. And most PC manufacturers are just drop-dead-awful on a unified design strategy. Apple owns industrial design. They realized that it will sell a lot of product.
Sony is probably the closest to making this happen. Their design sense is fairly unified, but they haven't tried too hard to differentiate themselves from other manufacturers with any marketing. HTC is good on the mobile front, but the same thing exists, they let their partners advertise, but they've never actively pushed their own stuff.
@infinitetroll:
"Therefore you can run ALL the software available, moreso than on a P.C."
This is a bogus point and you know it. Or, "You're so out of touch."
You can't run Mac OS X legally on any hardware because Apple specifically prohibits this. They can't run software that can deal with hardware outside of their small little bubble. You're giving the company credit for something they specifically hamper.
