[GreenKeys] Windows 7 Coming Soon

[Bob McConnell]

Don Robert House wrote:
> According to MicroSoft Windows System 7 is supposed to solve all  
> problems.  I have heard that statement before.  Anyway... here is the  
> latest information I obtained from Hewlett-Packard's website:
> 
> A final release version of Windows 7 has not yet been made available  
> to the public. Currently, Microsoft is planning on releasing Windows 7  
> to the public on October 22nd, 2009.
> 
> HP is not providing support or drivers for beta or test versions of  
> Windows 7.
> 
> HP is offering Windows 7 upgrades for qualifying HP and Compaq desktop  
> computers purchased on or after June 26th, 2009.
> 
> To find out if you have a qualifying computer or to learn more, see  
> Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program from HP: <http://tinyurl.com/kkf5f3>
> 
> For more information about Windows 7, please see Microsoft's Windows 7  
> Home site: <http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/>

Don't hold your breath. From what we have seen so far, W7 is simply 
Vista Service Pack 2. The Released To Manufacturing DVD images were 
posted on their servers for developer and OEM access two weeks ago. 
Anyone with a current MSDN license could download them from there. We 
have two or three groups testing our products on it now, but I haven't 
heard how it is going.

The major glitch is that they did not remove any of the DRM (Digital 
Restrictions Management) that caused Vista to be such a dog. The OS 
still spends most of its time checking the attached peripherals to make 
sure you don't switch in an unacceptable device, such as an audio or 
video stream recorder. So the only thing it is any good for is as a home 
entertainment center. But even there, if you have a high-def camera, you 
won't be able to view your own recordings in high-def, because they 
aren't encrypted correctly to enable that feature.

I suspect Microsoft's sales and profits will continue to plummet. They 
were down 27% the last quarter, and will likely continue that downward 
trend. People are finally waking up to the fact that MS-Windows ain't 
all that.

Bob McConnell
N2SPP