Windows 7 Born from Vista's Frustrations

Vista's Headaches Prompted Microsoft to Change How They Do Business

(CNET)  This story was written by CNET's Ina Fried

If consumers like the new Windows 7 operating system, they'll have the much-maligned Windows Vista to thank.

In part, that's because Windows 7 actually builds on the under-the-hood changes that came with Vista. But, it also turns out that the vast headaches created by Vista were just what the PC industry needed to improve their cooperation.

With consumers lukewarm to Vista and many businesses shunning it entirely, both Microsoft and the computer makers realized that the standard way of business just wasn't cutting it, particularly with Apple coming on strong.

Redmond, in particular, was humbled by the response to Vista. When it came time to planning the next version, newly installed Windows development chief Steven Sinofsky took the company's earliest ideas and met with PC makers.

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That marked a huge change from past releases, where, as some PC makers described it, Microsoft would just develop windows in secret and then "throw it over the wall."

"Until Vista, Microsoft was fully thinking on their own and implementing their own ideas and then releasing it," said Gianpiero Morbello, a vice president for Taiwanese PC maker Acer.

This time around, though, Microsoft shared its earliest plans, sought input, and held regular meetings with the PC makers. In addition, it dedicated engineering teams to work with each of the biggest computer makers to help them work through any issues specific to their designs.

The result, which goes on sale Thursday, is Windows 7. Although its changes are more modest than those made in Windows Vista, the product has been both on time and well received by testers and reviewers alike. Close cooperation with the PC makers has resulted in a product that adds few blockbuster features but is roundly praised for making everyday computing tasks simpler and more elegant.

Many of the new features, such as support for
iPhone-style touch interfaces, have been heavily influenced by the work with PC manufacturers. Among the first things Sinofsky did upon taking the reins of Windows development in 2006 was to study what happened to Windows when the bits left Redmond and made their way onto new PCs.

When finally asked for their early input, computer makers were not shy with their ideas for how Microsoft could do better. Indeed, the computer makers' fingerprints can be found all over the product from the way it supports touch input to which features are included in which versions of the product.

"I think I was hated in Redmond," said Sony senior manager Xavier Lauwaert. "I just spoke out every time."

Among the changes that came directly from the computer makers was the about-face that Microsoft did with regards to Windows 7 Starter--the entry-level version of the product aimed primarily at Netbooks. Initially, Microsoft wanted to impose a limit of three open applications at a time, in part to distinguish the version from higher-end editions.

PC makers complained loudly that the restriction was too onerous--and might tempt consumers to stick with the older and less secure Windows XP. Microsoft eventually relented and, though it has maintained other limitations, Netbooks with Windows 7 Starter can run as many applications as their limited memory will allow.

Another feature that grew out of discussions with computer makers and business customers is the addition of an "XP Mode"--an option that allows Windows 7 users to run a free, virtualized copy of Windows XP to run older applications that aren't compatible with newer operating systems. In some cases, one incompatible program was keeping businesses from even considering a move off Windows XP.

Phil Osako, director of product marketing for Toshiba's PC unit, said there may be some businesses that never even use the virtualization option, but will be more comfortable moving by knowing that they have the virtualization option to fall back to should they encounter problems.

Tami Reller, the VP in charge of the business side of Windows, said that Microsoft's now-bendable ear really is a different way of doing business. "We have become very good listeners over the past several years," Reller said. "We are imperfect human beings, but we have become very good listeners."

Phil McKinney, CTO of Hewlett-Packard's PC unit, filled in for his boss at one of Microsoft's regular meetings with computer makers in 2007.

"I walked out of there going 'This is a different Microsoft. This is a different relationship," he said.

McKinney noted that Microsoft's initial overtures to the computer makers were met with a fair bit of skepticism. "Is this legit or is this just trying to appease frustration," McKinney recalls thinking. "It quickly proved out that Microsoft was serious."

That said, McKinney noted that neither HP nor the other PC makers got exactly what they wanted. "It wasn't like Microsoft just sat there and took up every piece of feedback," he said. "There was give and take."

Microsoft also had harsh messages for the PC companies. The vast amounts of preinstalled software that they were shipping on consumer machines, so-called "crapware" were slowing down systems and hurting the PC's image.

The computer makers and Microsoft began looking at each piece of software, whether it came from the PC manufacturers or a third party, and measuring its impact on the system. Those that were bogging things down were told to fix their software or else got pulled from new PCs.

The result is that Windows 7, in many cases, can boot up more quickly and go in and out of sleep in a matter of seconds. Consumers will also notice they get systems that are a lot less cluttered, in some cases with nothing more than a recycle bin on their desktop when they first boot their PC.

Another big influence was Apple's recent success and, in particular, the benefits it was getting by linking its software and hardware.

"I think there was a recognition by PC (makers) and Microsoft that, for the best experience, the software and the hardware really need to work hand and hand," Osako said.

At its best, McKinney said that things felt more like a hardware and software division working together than it did a collaboration between different companies.

There are still examples of Microsoft and PC makers each deciding they can do things better. Even though Microsoft has a new taskbar, for example, Dell is carrying over the dock it built to help launch Vista applications. The result is that some PCs still feature multiple interfaces, each trying to accomplish a similar tasik.

Microsoft, too, still has room for improvement, PC makers said. Acer's Morbello noted that Microsoft is trying to transform itself from a nearly "obsolete" engineering-driven approach that adds features simply because they are possible to one that focuses on what customers actually want.

"These changes are a transformation of the company," Morbello said.

The task is critical for Microsoft, which depends on Windows for a huge chunk of both sales and profits. At the high end, it faces never-ending challenges from Apple, which now has significantly more resources to invest in the Mac. At the low-end, meanwhile, Google is preparing its Chrome OS, which makes the case that people really just need a fast and efficient browsing experience to handle most computing tasks.

For her part, Reller promised that Microsoft plans to continue seeking PC makers' input as it builds the successor to Windows 7.

"This is the new Windows," Reller said.

[barbaram99]

I hear the XP uers and diehards. I was given a Vista machine in 08. I had a love/hate with it. I am aware most users are fully sighted. I moved to Vista for the sp needs help XP does not have. As legally blind person from birth I hated MS Sam. Vista uses MS Anna. My talking clocks say the time in a lady's voice. I have Speaking Clock on my computer. XPuses Sam and Sam sound so awful. Vista is slow in starting and shutting down. The display darkens when asked to do something. I do like the interface. Some call it eye candy. I don't as the colours help me. I love the flip. I may not move to Win 7. I heard people say good about it. I am poor. I am using an older Notebook I got used.

[Sloughfoot]

Only after a true competitor is able to establish themselves a a workable OP Sytem and available to the public will we see any real consumer concern displayed by MS. Build and Edsel and follow it with a Crown Vic and tell the people they really need to upgrade.

[lpgideon]

Thanks for XP. I reinstalled XP on one machine we have that came with Vista. Reason: Every time I rebooted Vista, I had to go to Safe Mode to clean up the registry and defrag it to get it even to start past the scrolling bar at the start up on Vista. Vista seemed to work alright when it did, but when it didn't it was a mess to get started again.

[Hosheen]

The writing is plain. Micro$oft must change its ways and starts producing software that works as they claim and stop treating customers like sheep to be sheared. Otherwise, the ripple of users migrating to the Mac OS and Linux will turn into a tidal wave. Already there are companies offering PC's with the Moac OS pre-installed and there are numerous web site with instructions on how to do it yourself.

In fact, there's a computer shop a short distance from me that will either convert your PC to Mac OSX or sell you one already set up with plenty of cheap or free software.

Personally, if Microsoft fails and slides under the digital ocean, I will be cheering.

[us_1776]

We quit using Windows back in 2002. Just got tired of all the crap that M$ was putting out and over-charging for.

We use Mac notebooks and a Fedora linux server now. And it's been pure joy.

[tahoedeadhead]

I tutor in computer usage. most of my clients are neophytes. I us win2k. All Microsoft does is change where to find these tasks that everyone uses. I personally think that the one size fits all attitude is crazy. I am glad that they finally talk to the pc makers because the biggest complaint I get is about crap ware. I recently had a client that paid 125.00 extra to get it taken off of her computer. Crapware is the main reason I will never buy a computer from a computer store. I prefer to control what programs are on my computer

[thesevenveils]

Since when did someone appoint Microsoft as the digital media police? This extra layer of snooping, on top of an already heavy layer of a stupid administration rights controls makes Vista and Vista.1 (Win7) a clusterfk.

Vista and Win 7 both infringe upon their users constitutional granted freedoms and creativity.

Why buy a bloated of ill conceived operating system for up to $200 of your hard earned dollars when you can use one of two superior operating systems for free?

[boatdocster]

What are the must have features of Windows 7 that XP does not have??

Touch screens? Is that really it?? The last thing I want is is 10,000 finger prints on my monitor while I'm trying to work.

[kcits]

You touch upon something very fundamental. What exactly, besides the hype that articlmercials and the like are pushing? Windows 7 is good not because it adds something useful, but that it is a stripped down version of Vista. Vista never worked because all the so called improvements never materialized , were broke, or were not improvements but drm with a new name. Windows Genuine advantage sounds great, until you understand that it is named that way to make it sound better. No one would be for it if it were named the "Microsoft phone home application to restrict your ability to update".

[brianbwb-2009]

There is a small, but very important niche market that both Microsoft and Apple both kicked to the curb. For audio/video producers, Windows 7, just like Vista, is totally useless, even dangerous for users of expensive digital recording hard-and-software.

Nowadays, when almost everything you see and hear on radio, television, and movies was at least in part created on computers, it was a stupid move for Microsoft and Apple to abandon any degree of compatibility with the billions of dollars of hard and software in our business, a mistake that will surely come back to bite them.

Compared to the MS Office crowd, net surfers, and yes, even gamers, we are a small segment of the market, but just like the "jesus bolt" on a helicopter, it is not at all wise to ignore us.

And also let us not forget, if you should fall ill, and have to go to the hospital, I would think it would hardly be reassuring that your life monitoring devices may be running on a buggy OS, just because MS decides not to service the older versions, and might sue you for reverting to an old but working copy you managed to scrounge up.

I say we need to put XP-64 into the public domain, as MS no longer sells or services the product.

[borg99]

This article doesn't even mention Microsoft's absurdly onerous and ill-conceived "product activation" element, which often winds up making legitimate copies of Windows unusable. Or the refusal of Microsoft to support programs like Norton Ghost that make mirror backup images that have saved the bacon for millions. Microsoft thinks first of its bottom line -- users are dead last.

[pubsrtoast]

Good point. Digital rights management has become more and more invasive with each succession of Windows. I can still Ghost an image of XP, that is why I will stick with it.

[lpgideon]

Thanks for XP. I reinstalled XP on one machine we have that came with Vista. Reason: Every time I rebooted Vista, I had to go to Safe Mode to clean up the registry and defrag it to get it even to start past the scrolling bar at the start up on Vista. Vista seemed to work alright when it did, but when it didn't it was a mess to get started again.

[AOCGUY]

I recently had to buy a new computer and it came loaded with Vista and a free upgrade to Win 7. I will admit that I was very concerned about Vista but after 4 months I'm very impressed. I have very view problems, and those were incompatabilities with 3rd party software. My only real complaint is that I prefer the XP look to the new Vista look. I will try Win7 when I get it.

[pubsrtoast]

It wasn't that Vista was so bad (although it was), it was that XP was so good. I am running XP64 on all my systems, and I see no reason to upgrade until third party programs no longer work.

[armyoftwelve]

So Microsoft sold me a turd for an OS....do I get a refund or a redit for a better OS????

[jclark7613]

I would not purchase Windows 7 for at least 4 months until after I see the problem customer are having with it. I refuse to upgrade from xp because I've never had a problem with it.

[thesevenveils]

That is a wise move. Many corporations have found through an expensive learning curve, that it is best to wait until MS releases the first service pack before considering a migration.