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Microsoft goes back to basics with Windows 7

October 14, 2008

New versions of Windows are subject to enough analysis, hype and speculation without reading too much into Microsoft's thought process when deciding upon official brand names. So forgive me for doing exactly that following the company's decision to reveal the official branding of Windows Vista's successor.

The OS that previously went by the codename 'Windows 7' will be officially known as 'Windows 7' when it launches in 18 months or so. Microsoft has ditched its strategy to come up with catchy, and sometimes perplexing, product names for its next desktop OS, and gone back to the future with a naming convention it hasn't used since the early nineties (since Windows 3x). And that can only be a good thing.

Whereas three versions of Windows were named by the year in which they were released (Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000), it's perhaps sensible for Microsoft not to commit to Windows 2010 for its next OS, given the delays in getting Vista out the door. Meanwhile, Windows NT (New Technology) and Windows XP (eXPerience) seemed a little pretentious.

Then we have Vista. The Concise Oxford English Dictionary defines Vista as 'a pleasing view' - perhaps a reference to the snazzy Aero interface, which turned out to be the source of much displeasure; or 'a mental view of an imagined future event or situation' - I think we all had a mental image of what Vista would be, but it didn't come to fruition.

So, now we have Windows 7 - a product name which doesn't promise anything other than, perhaps, a back-to-basics approach to OS design. Which would have been enough to kill the hype, had Microsoft not made the following comment: "Simply put, this is the seventh release of Windows", said Microsoft general manager Mike Nash, referring to what will be anything from the eighth or ninth version of Windows, depending on how you look at it.

For more analysis/speculation as to why Windows 7 is called Windows 7, see AeroExperience.

Posted by: Paul Trotter

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Comments

Posted by GraemeP on October 14, 2008 :

"Windows 7' will be officially known as 'Windows 7' when it launches in 18 months or so"
- yeah, right...

Posted by Get It Right on October 14, 2008 :

Maybe it's high time that pc journalists and forum one bit brains will go back to basics. In other words stop licking the MS cash cows behind as it produces another rancid one.

It makes me laugh when I recall how many in and running the forums were frictioning all over the pathetic Vista Aero release.

I will call the shots on the W's 7 with pure objectivity!

Yes, Touch Screen "Crapper 7".

Posted by Get it wrong on October 14, 2008 :

'Get it Right'

I'm sure you have a point, but i dont think anyone knows what it is

Posted by Get it wrong on October 14, 2008 :

'Get it Right'

I'm sure you have a point, but i dont think anyone knows what it is

Posted by The watcher on October 14, 2008 :

Get it Right. I don't know who you think you are, but no-one understands your innane bleatings, and still fewer people give a shit. just button it.

Posted by Looks Like I on October 14, 2008 :

hit the target every time.
Many thanks guys for your constant and avid interest.

Posted by We all know who the vacant are... on October 14, 2008 :

some miffed insiders.

Posted by Markus on October 14, 2008 :

You could make people register to reply to the Blogs, as with the Forums.

But, by doing so you will get one or two less replies = zero.

I would be grateful that a few regular clowns actually make the time to enjoy this sparse section.

Posted by David Gerard on October 14, 2008 :

Tentative names included Windows Blackcomb, Windows Vienna, WindOS X, Windows Steak and Bl*wj*bs Edition!!! (which proved in beta testing to be Tofu and Long Querulous Discussion About Where Our Relationship Is Going Edition) and Windows 2007^W2008^W2009^W2010. tinyurl.com/3l8pws

Posted by Jayengee on October 16, 2008 :

The only thing that matters to me is whether it works - booting and shutting down reliably and quickly like XP (unlike the c**p Vista) and works with my accessories on the network without a lot of expensive replacements (unlike Vista) otherwise I'll think about another operating system.

Paul Trotter
Blogger Paul Trotter has been addicted to online news since ditching newspapers at the dawn of the internet. He's been writing about the IT market for ten years and is editor of PC Advisor.

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