technews

So okay, I’ll admit it - I’m a huge Mac fan, I think they’re great, and I probably will buy one soon, whether it’s a Macbook or G-series   desktop version. But… at the minute, I’m still very much a PC and Windows user. How long this will continue, though, is open to debate. At the minute, I use XP for my desktop and my fiancee has Vista on her laptop. Obviously the news is out about Microsoft “ending” support for XP on June 30 2008 as it prepares for Windows 7. However, if it’s anything like Windows Vista, then the Mac fraternity may have a lot more new users than this simple scribe, and a heck of a lot sooner.

I don’t think even the staunchest of Windows supporters can argue on behalf of Vista. Quite possibly one of the worst software releases in the history of software releases, Windows Vista is a case of “so close, but no cigar” From its annoying prompt “do you wish to allow this change” to its lack of cross-compatibility issues, it’s not one of Microsoft’s finest hours. So, as a PC user, I’m waiting keenly on seeing how Windows 7 performs, especially as a happy user of XP.

Yet there seems to be a distinct lack of news about Windows 7, and its role compared to Vista and the soon-to-be-extinct XP. When will it ship? What will the new features be? Will it try to compete with Apple and run Mac software, much like Apple’s OSX allows Windows programs to run on a Mac?

This lack of a solid release date only strengthens the beliefs of many XP users that Microsoft realizes that it’s erred with Vista - so much so that there is talk of extending the close date for XP. Especially when Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer admits that Vista has been problematic, and that with XP still offering a large audience for Microsoft, the company would listen to concerns about XP.

One thing’s for sure - the end of June promises to be a key point in Microsoft’s success, as well as how the company is viewed as a viable source of the best technology for users. I’ll be watching this closely…