MS Exec: Windows 7 Will Help Vista's Reputation

A senior Microsoft figure recently made the statement that the success of Windows 7 could lead critics to change their minds about 'ol Vista. But a major newspaper is predicting Vista's unpopularity means the upgrade process to Windows 7 will be "frustrating, tedious and labor-intensive" for many.

Steve Guggenheimer is Microsoft's vice president in charge of OEM, meaning he oversees the way the company's products are pre-installed by computer manufacturers. In an interview with ChannelWeb, he argued that once Windows 7 is released in October, people will realize that Vista had its strong points.

Win7 and Vista Similar

Despite that strange argument, Guggenheimer isn't suggesting Windows 7 will be so bad it makes Vista look good. Instead he believes the two systems are so similar, users who appreciate Windows 7 will realize many of the fundamentals were already present in Vista. (Source: crn.com)

There's some truth to the idea that the poor response to Vista's negatives overshadowed its positives. It's also fair to note that much of Vista's poor reputation was caused by problems in the original release which were fixed in the first service pack. However, Guggenheimer's comments may come too late to change opinions, and may even leave some would-be buyers wary about Windows 7.

Win7 Upgrade Hassles

One situation where Vista will look good is the upgrade process to Windows 7. It was already widely known in the tech world that the upgrade process would be much smoother with Vista than XP, but now the point has received mainstream coverage in the Wall Street Journal, which won't help Microsoft's reputation.

Win7 Fundamentally Different Than XP

While Windows 7 has the same underlying structure as Vista, it's fundamentally different than XP. That means XP users can't simply install Windows 7 by inserting a disk. Instead, the process involves completely wiping the hard drive, meaning users must back up all of their data first. After installing Windows 7, they must then reinstall all their programs and hardware. (Source: wsj.com)

Microsoft argues that the best option for XP users is to simply buy a new computer. That may be true in technical terms, but as the Wall Street Journal points out, it's a tough argument to sell, particularly during a recession.