* Most important release in more than a decade
* Reviews positive, no immediate effect on bottom line
* Boost to PC sales seen next year
* Shares fall, still up almost 80 pct since March
(Adds Ballmer quote, Amazon detail, share price)
By /a>
NEW YORK, Oct 22 (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp (/a>) launched Windows 7 on Thursday, its most important release in more than a decade, aiming to win back customers disappointed by Vista and strengthen its grip on the PC market.
The world’s largest software company, which powers more than 90 percent of personal computers, has received good reviews for the new operating system, which it hopes will grab back the impetus in new technology from rivals Apple Inc (/a>) and Google Inc (/a>).
“It’s the first really significant release of Windows in a decade,” analyst Brendan Barnicle of Pacific Crest Securities told Reuters Television. “Given the missteps around Vista, people really questioned Microsoft’s relevancy in the technology space. So this is a critical first step for Microsoft regaining that credibility.”
The new system — which is faster, less cluttered and has new touch-screen features — comes almost three years after the launch of Vista, whose complexity frustrated many home users and turned off business customers.
The success of Windows — which accounts for more than half of Microsoft’s profit — is crucial for Chief Executive Steve Ballmer to revive the company’s image as the world’s most important software firm. ID:nN16236889
“There’s not much that gets me more fired up than the chance to start selling and delivering,” Ballmer told a packed audience at the Windows 7 launch in New York. “You will be unbelievably impressed.”
Ballmer and other executives demonstrated a range of new devices showing off Windows 7, from ultra-slim laptops to large touch-screen computers, highlighting a new Kindle book-reading application from Amazon.com Inc (/a>) and live-streaming CBS television shows.
Windows 7 sales will not immediately impact the bottom line of Microsoft, which is expected to post a lower quarterly profit on Friday. ID:nN16352711
The company’s shares were down half a percent in afternoon trading at $26.43.
Cheaper than Vista
Microsoft is charging $199.99 for the Home Premium version of Windows 7, or $119.99 for users seeking to upgrade from older versions of the operating system — well below comparable prices for Vista.
It also has a range of offers in conjunction with retailer Best Buy Co Inc (/a>) and PC makers such as Dell Inc (/a>) and Acer Inc (/a>).
For the first time, shoppers will be able to buy PCs loaded with the software direct from a branded Microsoft store, with the first of a planned chain set to open on Thursday in Scottsdale, Arizona. ID:nN16364916
The U.S. holiday season will soon reveal whether consumer PC sales get a kick from Windows 7, but success with corporations — the key to Microsoft’s financial power — will not be clear until next year, analysts say.
“Come June of next year, we are going to get the real indication of the business-to-business marketplace,” said Mark Simons, chief executive of the U.S. arm of Toshiba Corp (/a>), the world’s No. 5 PC maker, on Wednesday.
Early indications are that companies are getting ready to switch to Windows 7.
“People like it,” said Michael Capone, chief information officer for payroll services firm Automatic Data Processing Inc (/a>), pointing out its quick start-up and good user interface.
“There is a line outside my door from people wanting to get into the pilot program,” Capone said at a technology conference in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday.
His company typically waits at least 18 months to begin broad deployment of a new version of Windows, said Capone, but this time he could be more aggressive.
“In the surveys that we’ve done about half the CIOs (chief information officers) indicated that they would just use Windows 7 on existing PCs as opposed to replace the entire hardware,” said Barnicle. “That would be very positive for Microsoft, but maybe not so positive for the PC manufacturers.”
Credits to: /a>
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* Most important release in more than a decade
* Reviews positive, no immediate effect on bottom line
* Boost to PC sales seen next year
* Shares fall, still up almost 80 pct since March
(Adds Ballmer quote, Amazon detail, share price)
By /a>
NEW YORK, Oct 22 (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp (/a>) launched Windows 7 on Thursday, its most important release in more than a decade, aiming to win back customers disappointed by Vista and strengthen its grip on the PC market.
The world’s largest software company, which powers more than 90 percent of personal computers, has received good reviews for the new operating system, which it hopes will grab back the impetus in new technology from rivals Apple Inc (/a>) and Google Inc (/a>).
“It’s the first really significant release of Windows in a decade,” analyst Brendan Barnicle of Pacific Crest Securities told Reuters Television. “Given the missteps around Vista, people really questioned Microsoft’s relevancy in the technology space. So this is a critical first step for Microsoft regaining that credibility.”
The new system — which is faster, less cluttered and has new touch-screen features — comes almost three years after the launch of Vista, whose complexity frustrated many home users and turned off business customers.
The success of Windows — which accounts for more than half of Microsoft’s profit — is crucial for Chief Executive Steve Ballmer to revive the company’s image as the world’s most important software firm. ID:nN16236889
“There’s not much that gets me more fired up than the chance to start selling and delivering,” Ballmer told a packed audience at the Windows 7 launch in New York. “You will be unbelievably impressed.”
Ballmer and other executives demonstrated a range of new devices showing off Windows 7, from ultra-slim laptops to large touch-screen computers, highlighting a new Kindle book-reading application from Amazon.com Inc (/a>) and live-streaming CBS television shows.
Windows 7 sales will not immediately impact the bottom line of Microsoft, which is expected to post a lower quarterly profit on Friday. ID:nN16352711
The company’s shares were down half a percent in afternoon trading at $26.43.
Cheaper than Vista
Microsoft is charging $199.99 for the Home Premium version of Windows 7, or $119.99 for users seeking to upgrade from older versions of the operating system — well below comparable prices for Vista.
It also has a range of offers in conjunction with retailer Best Buy Co Inc (/a>) and PC makers such as Dell Inc (/a>) and Acer Inc (/a>).
For the first time, shoppers will be able to buy PCs loaded with the software direct from a branded Microsoft store, with the first of a planned chain set to open on Thursday in Scottsdale, Arizona. ID:nN16364916
The U.S. holiday season will soon reveal whether consumer PC sales get a kick from Windows 7, but success with corporations — the key to Microsoft’s financial power — will not be clear until next year, analysts say.
“Come June of next year, we are going to get the real indication of the business-to-business marketplace,” said Mark Simons, chief executive of the U.S. arm of Toshiba Corp (/a>), the world’s No. 5 PC maker, on Wednesday.
Early indications are that companies are getting ready to switch to Windows 7.
“People like it,” said Michael Capone, chief information officer for payroll services firm Automatic Data Processing Inc (/a>), pointing out its quick start-up and good user interface.
“There is a line outside my door from people wanting to get into the pilot program,” Capone said at a technology conference in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday.
His company typically waits at least 18 months to begin broad deployment of a new version of Windows, said Capone, but this time he could be more aggressive.
“In the surveys that we’ve done about half the CIOs (chief information officers) indicated that they would just use Windows 7 on existing PCs as opposed to replace the entire hardware,” said Barnicle. “That would be very positive for Microsoft, but maybe not so positive for the PC manufacturers.”
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