Microsoft's systems overload on Windows 7

One of the world’s largest software vendors, Microsoft, recently had a ‘network infrastructure problem’ due to desperate users wanting to trial its new operating system – Windows 7.

Microsoft has delayed the public release of the first Windows 7 Beta due to heavy traffic.

At the time, Windows said it was working on putting more network infrastructure in place to handle the demand and will soon provide an update on availability.

Brandon LeBlanc, a communications manager on the Windows Client Communications Team, said Microsoft was delighted by the overwhelming interest and would post an update to the blog once the additional capacity had been added and Windows 7 Beta 1 was ready for public downloads.

Just what is the fascination with the new operating system?

Are people so desperate to crush any memory of the much-hyped and maligned OS – Vista?

The answer would have to be a resounding yes!

For the past two years – since Vista’s debut – the general public commentary overwhelmingly described how dreadful the operating system was.

Users from all over the world demanded that Microsoft push back its date to can XP, which it did, eventually extending XP’s shelf life to 31 July 2009.

Besides user comment, a lot of the decisions behind the extension was due to big-name vendors such as HP and Dell admitting that they were leaving a door open for users to downgrade their Vista machines to XP.

There will only be a six-month gap before the end of XP and the rumoured release of Windows 7 (towards the end of 2009/early 2010).

So how will Windows 7 compare with Vista?

According to Steve Ballmer, CEO at Microsoft, the new OS has been billed as “the best version of Windows ever” (might have heard that one before).

Ballmer claimed the product will boot more quickly, boast better battery life and is more reliable.

He also announced major partnerships with Facebook, Dell and Verizon Wireless, that will help Microsoft further its cloud ambitions.

The Facebook-Microsoft deal will let Facebook users feed the digital content they post on Facebook into feeds on Windows Live, while the Dell agreement will see the PC maker pre-install Windows Live Essentials on its consumer and small business PCs beginning in February.

Verizon Wireless has agreed to include Live Search on all of its phones in the US, giving Microsoft a foothold in mobile search.

If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, then according to Ballmer, Windows 7 will also include updates to the Windows Live Essentials suite of client applications, which includes Windows Live Mail, Live Messenger, Live Writer and Live Photo Gallery.

However Windows Live Movie Maker remains in Beta.

While end-users have been convinced to downgrade, those waiting for Windows 7 might come across a slight hitch.

In a recent Windows 7 Beta test initiated by CRN US Test Centre, Windows XP users cannot upgrade directly to the Windows 7 Beta, although they can upgrade from Vista systems with Service Pack 1 installed(http://www.crn.com/software/212701488).

So what will resellers do and did they expect this little hitch, especially with so many customers demanding to downgrade to XP?

Then what can you do?

To quote a reseller reader;

“it’s Microsoft”.

What are your thoughts on Windows 7, have you tried it?

Email me at;
lguan@techpartner.news

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