Tuesday 07 September 2010
Windows 7, which was launched simultaneously in several countries Thursday, is the successor to Vista, which hit the market three years ago.
Windows 7 puts priority on speedy operation rather than high functionality, making it possible to use it even with small, low-cost PCs such as Netbooks. “Prerelease orders exceeded sales of Vista during the first three months of its release,” Yasuyuki Higuchi, president of Microsoft’s Japanese unit, said during a launch event for the new OS.
Windows 7 is characterized by its high speed, user-friendliness and other improvements that make it possible to use much of the software sold in the past. The company also has improved some functions that dissatisfied many users of Vista.To upgrade to Windows 7, users of XP and Vista can expect to pay 15,800 yen, which is 4,000 yen cheaper than Vista.
A research company predicts global sales of Windows 7 will exceed 177 million units by the end of 2010. “[Windows 7] will help increase sales of personal computers and [user] service demand, creating about 2.3 trillion yen in profit in related markets in Japan alone,” Higuchi said.
On Thursday, many PC manufacturers started selling computers preinstalled with Windows 7.
According to research company GfK Marketing Services Japan Ltd., domestic sales of PCs in September decreased about 8 percent from the same period last year, registering year-on-year losses for eight consecutive months due to sluggish consumption.
Manufacturers are hopeful of an upturn in sales due to Windows 7.
However, some observers believe the new OS will have a limited effect on sales of PCs.
In the past, new operating systems usually meant an increase in demand for new computers, with many users inspired to fork out for higher performance models.
As Windows 7 is founded upon the principles of high speed and user-friendliness, many people likely will not feel the need for a new, higher-performance PC.
“[The release of Windows 7] will accelerate the lowering of costs for PCs, which won’t lead to improved profits,” a senior official of a major electrical manufacturer said.
Competition in the OS market is intensifying, with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) of the United States releasing its new operating system, Snow Leopard, in August. The company also is enjoying success with such products as the iPhone.
Google Inc. of the United States plans to enter the OS market in 2010, putting priority on Net-related functions.
Cloud computing, which uses Net-based applications such as word processors and spreadsheet programs, also is expected to become popular.
The impact of Microsoft operating systems–which once wholly dominated the market–is gradually lessening, observers said.
