End User

Microsoft wants to know if your Windows 7 is pirated

Attempting to stay a step ahead of software counterfeiters, Microsoft this month plans to release an update for Windows 7 that will scan computers for evidence of the latest tricks being used by tech pirates to fool the company's software-activation technologies into thinking counterfeit operating systems are the real thing.

As in the past, the channels of distribution will include the operating system's Automatic Update mechanism. That practice has gotten Microsoft in hot water in the past -- including a recently dismissed lawsuit that accused the company of using its security-update pipeline to quietly distribute what amounted to spyware.

However, the company is making the update voluntary this time, and it's making a point of announcing it publicly in advance. In addition, if the new check determines a user's Windows 7 copy to be pirated, the repercussions are less severe. Windows no longer removes access to features in those cases, but instead turns the background black and takes other steps that essentially amount to nagging.

"Over time, we have changed our approach, mostly based on customer feedback," said Joe Williams, general manager of Microsoft's Genuine Windows initiative, in an interview. "We’re just a lot more open and transparent about what our business methods are."

Williams announced the plan in a blog post this morning. It's the latest step in the company's long-running effort to cut down on piracy and boost sales of genuine Windows copies. Microsoft also says it's trying to protect customers, citing studies showing that pirated systems can come chock full of traditional spyware and other malicious code.

In the interview, Williams said the company says doesn't collect "personally identifiable information" from computers as part of the anti-piracy scan. However, as noted in this privacy policy, the company does collect, temporarily, the IP address associated with a machine. One of the most interesting aspects of the recent court case was the judge's ruling that IP addresses didn't qualify as personally identifiable information.

"We do collect the IP address. We do not keep it," Williams said. "Where we have a machine-specific item, we convert that to a hash, so we don't keep the particular item. But it helps us to understand when that unique PC visits us or revisits us."

The new update will scan systems for two tactics being used by counterfeiters to trick the company's Windows Activation Technologies into thinking pirated systems are genuine -- manipulation of registry settings, and a modified "bootloader" that intervenes when the operating system is loading.

The company plans to make the update available for download from its website starting Feb. 16. Later in the month, the update will be available through the Windows Update system as an "important" update (as opposed to the higher ranking of "critical"), which means that people who have their Windows 7 machines set to receive those updates will receive them automatically as if they were getting a security patch. The update will also be uninstallable if a user finds out later and wants to remove it.

After installation of the update, the system will check back with Microsoft's server every 90 days for further updates, and if they're available, it will scan the system again to see if it has been pirated.

"For most Windows users in the developed world its impact will be nonexistent; on a system with a properly activated copy of Windows, it will make an initial validation check, update itself every 90 days, and never make a peep," writes Ed Bott, an independent Windows author and blogger, in a post today. "What’s noteworthy to me is the degree to which Microsoft is going out of its way to disclose the details of this update and to allow anyone who is skeptical of it to opt out with no negative consequences."

People whose systems are determined to be pirated will be given an opportunity to buy a genuine Windows copy at a discounted rate. There will be deeper discount if they help Microsoft identify the source of the counterfeit, Williams said.

At the same time, people who continue to run systems identified as pirated won't be able to use free software from Microsoft, such as its Microsoft Security Essentials program.

But why bother distributing an update such as this as voluntary? Won't people who know they're running pirated copies just skip it? The answer is yes, but the company says it believes many people who bought pirated systems from questionable sources have been tricked into thinking they're running a real copy, particularly as counterfeiters get better at making high-quality installation discs.

More coverage: Paul Thurrott, Mary Jo Foley, and Ina Fried

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Microsoft exec: Slate computers a 'reasonably interesting' category

 Posting from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas: Apart from 3D TVs, one of the biggest trends at CES is the surge in computers and devices that are something more than smartphones but less than notebooks. The buzz is particularly intense over touch-enabled slate computers -- fueled by Apple's plans, whatever they may be.

In many ways, we've been here before. Microsoft and computer makers tried -- and failed -- to push slate computing into the mainstream almost a decade ago through the Tablet PC initiative. And they weren't the first. So what's different this time, and what's the potential market? Those are among the questions I asked Tami Reller, Microsoft's Windows marketing and finance chief, in an interview here.

Continue reading for edited excerpts.

Q: One of the interesting trends here is this space between smart phones and notebooks and it was represented by the new HP slate that Steve Ballmer talked about. How do you view the role of Windows 7 on those slate devices?

Reller: It’s a classic example of taking innovation in Windows 7 and making the most of it in a device, and really saying, what is innovation in touch. The all-in-one did an excellent job with touch. Now we’re seeing the slates. It has the same technology as a netbook, and the things that we found with netbooks, which is, it’s a good companion, and it tended to be a good companion on the road. How do we bring an entertainment netbook and really take advantage of touch? that’s what we think the slate has the potential to do. Terrific companion device.

Q: How big is the market for devices like that, the ‘entertainment netbook’?

Reller: It’s early to tell. But the beauty of it is it does multiple entertainment things. It’s certainly not just good in home. It will be good for travel. I think it’s a reasonably interesting category. Clearly a companion category, and I think that’s what’s important.

Q: So it’s not going to replace somebody’s notebook, probably not their desktop computer, probably not their smartphone. So at some point you say, OK, how many of these things are we going to be carrying around?

Reller: Clearly PCs are being viewed now as entertainment rich. So if I’m going to have a companion device, then let’s make sure it can do as many entertainment things for me as possible, so I can have less of them. I think that’s the key — how many of my entertainment scenarios will this device cover for me. Then it’s interesting. But it’s clearly early days.

Q: Did you feel that you needed to blunt whatever Apple might be coming out with later this month by touting the HP slate?

Reller: The HP slate has been an important conversation for us with HP for some time. I’ll just go back to the whole Windows 7 planning process. There has been regular, consistent, often, senior and detailed technical conversations on this wide range of devices. So it was just a very natural process. It’s always interesting to make competitive fodder of these things, but that’s clearly overblown.

Q: So are you not worried about anything Apple may be coming out with later this month?

Reller: Listen, Apple is always an interesting competitor to us.

Q: Are there differences between this slate market that we’re looking at now and the Tablet PC market that was going on back in 2002?

Reller: There’s certainly similarities, but it is such a different world, in terms of the range of devices, range of capabilities, and the sheer design. Most important is the Windows 7 touch technology brings a level of innovation that lets partners do much more interesting things. Not just on the hardware side but on the application side. It’s education, it’s commercial uses, it’s some very interesting consumer applications.

That’s the story of Windows, which is if the ecosystem can do interesting things, that’s when adoption happens. These devices become interesting when you can use them for more and more things. Using them for more and more things means that the ecosystem is rich and doing interesting things.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com.

Hands-on with Lenovo's hybrid IdeaPad U1

Posting from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas: Now here's something you don't see every day. The new IdeaPad U1 computer unveiled by Lenovo today isn't just "hybrid" in the sense that it's a notebook with a pop-out slate computer as its screen. It's also hybrid in the sense it runs Windows 7 in notebook form, then quickly switches to a Linux-based interface in slate mode.

The idea is to give people two machines in one -- a notebook computer that spawns a comparably lightweight, power-efficient Internet tablet.

I jostled my way through a ring of interested onlookers to see the new IdeaPad during a Consumer Electronics Show event tonight. It looks pretty cool. The switch between Windows 7 to Lenovo's Linux-based Skylight operating system seemed smooth, as you can see in the accompanying video. I could do without the glossy finish, but I did like the tactile feel of the palm rests.

However, as a fan of ThinkPads going back to the IBM era, I really wish Lenovo would just stick with those classic, ThinkPad-style mouse buttons and keyboards across its lineup of notebook computers. A Lenovo rep at the booth acknowledged that I wasn't alone in that opinion. And after playing with the new Lenovo Skylight "smartbook" at the booth, there's no question in my mind that it would benefit from the same thing.

At any rate, the IdeaPad is also hybrid in terms of its architecture, running on dual-core Intel processors in notebook mode, and a more mobile-oriented ARM processor in slate mode.

More stats from Lenovo: Screen is an 11.6 inch HD LED. The machine is 3.8 pounds as a notebook, and the slate is 1.6 pounds detached. The price will be less than $1,000. Release date is June 1.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com.

Week in Windows: Tech support tips and links for Windows 7

Microsoft has launched a new site to help lead people through the process of installing, uninstalling and/or upgrading Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP. ZDNet blogger Mary Jo Foley notes that the site could be helpful and timely for people who get Windows 7 or a new PC -- or both -- as a holiday gift.

Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 is tough enough that tech blogger Shaun Nichols gave the new operating system an honorable mention on v3.co.uk's list of the worst tech presents, at least for people running Windows XP as opposed to Windows Vista. "Between the screaming children, eggnog hangovers and cheesy Christmas specials, the holidays bring enough headaches without having to perform a complete wipe and reinstall of your operating system," he explains.

For more on the process, see our earlier post: Leaping from Windows XP to 7? Some important stuff to consider.

So what types of glitches are early Windows 7 users running into? Installation problems represent the biggest hurdle encountered by new users of the operating system, according to Ars Technica's detailed analysis of data from consumer tech services company iYogi. The second-biggest problem: Missing applets or components. Next on the list is the Windows Aero interface failing to run properly.

Even so, Microsoft is seeing fewer support calls since launching Windows 7, according to a report this week by CNet News.com, quoting Microsoft support VP Barbara Gordon saying that "call center volume is down significantly more than we expected." That's another sign that the new operating system is less troublesome than Windows Vista, but CNet's Ina Fried notes that the new Microsoft Answers site and Microsoft Helps Twitter feed are also playing a role by helping users resolve problems without calling.

What if you're still determined to talk with a real person about your Windows problems? Start at this Microsoft "Assisted Support" page, and provide information about the problem you're encountering to connect with a support staffer by email, online or via phone.

But the big Windows news of the week -- for PC users in Europe, especially -- was an antitrust truce between Microsoft and the European Commission. The commission's decision will allow the company to continue incorporating its Internet Explorer browser into the operating system, so long as it addresses antitrust concerns by distributing a "ballot screen" letting Windows users. For more background, see my interview with Brad Smith, Microsoft's top lawyer.

And in other notes from the week, Windows 7 is leading the pack in voting for Tech Platform of the Year in The Flashies, the year-end community choice awards on  TechFlash, where I'm managing editor. Windows 7 is beating out the iPhone, Facebook, Mac OS X Snow Leopard and others. But the race isn't over yet. You can cast your vote for any of the nominees here.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Microsoft's Windows 7 Family Pack disappears in U.S.

Microsoft said from the start that it would be offering limited quantities of its Windows 7 Family Pack, which let people upgrade three computers to Windows 7 Home Premium for the discounted rate of $149.99. But the deal turned out to be more limited than people expected, and the company is now taking heat over the news that it's no longer available in the U.S., at the height of the holiday shopping season.

"The Windows 7 Family Pack offer has ended," the product page says. Microsoft told CNet News.com last week that the package was selling out. As noted by CNet and Computerworld, some affiliates of Amazon.com and other sites have raised the price on their remaining Windows 7 Family Packs to as much as $279.99.

"I've got a new spelling for 'Scrooge,' " writes Joe Wilcox on BetaNews. "M-i-c-r-o-s-o-f-t."

Adds Windows author and blogger Ed Bott: "For Microsoft, this decision is stupid and short-sighted. It’s guaranteed to bring them a boatload of ill will and bad publicity in the final three weeks before Christmas. It looks greedy and decidedly not 'customer focused.' "

Paul Thurrott, who first reported the news last week, suggests that the decision might not be final.

"If you're upset that the company has strategically made this product unavailable just in time for the holidays, I recommend leaving some feedback on the Windows 7 Team Blog," he writes. "Microsoft has heavily promoted how feedback-focused they are with Windows 7, so I'm sure they'd love to hear from you."

ZDNet blogger Mary-Jo Foley also notes that it wouldn't be a surprise to see the company change its mind.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Week in Windows: PCs vs. Macs for the holidays

If you successfully avoided those questionable Black Friday PC deals, but you're still in the market for a new computer this holiday season, it's worth checking out Rob Pegoraro's no-nonsense "How to Choose a PC" column from the Washington Post -- which starts by breaking down the pros and cons of Macs and Windows PCs. His conclusion: Macs are technically superior, but the price means they're not for everyone.

"It's fair to call a Mac a luxury," he writes. "It's more affordable than many other luxuries, but see what your bank account has to say first."

 If your bank account says it's a Mac, check out Macworld's latest Mac buying guide, explaining the features and differences among Apple notebooks and desktops. If you decide to go for a Windows 7 PC instead, see Microsoft's "PC Scout" online utility for some help narrowing down your many choices.

Speaking of Windows vs. Macs, the latest web traffic stats from online research firm Net Applications suggest that Microsoft's new operating system exceeded Macs in overall usage last weekend, at least temporarily, according to a ComputerWorld report. That's largely a function of Windows' larger market share, but the rapid rise is another sign that Windows 7 is doing well.

 However, the traffic patterns also suggest that Windows 7 is being adopted more quickly by home users than by businesses, blogger John Lister notes. As industry analyst Roger Kay has noted, that's not as good for Microsoft, because business upgrades are mostly voluntary, driven by a desire for the new operating system, whereas consumer usage is largely a function of PCs preloaded with the new OS at retail.

Here's the type of headache Windows users were hoping to avoid this time around: Reports began to surface this week that Windows Vista machines with a specific type of Intel storage driver were unable to move to Windows 7 because of a problem in the upgrade process. See this Microsoft support document for a detailed description of the symptoms, and a temporary workaround for the problem. Glitches like this were widespread in early days of Windows Vista, but they've proven less common with Windows 7 -- so far.

Despite the best efforts of MacDailyNews and others, it appears that Microsoft successfully thwarted an attempt by Mac fans to take over the Windows 7-powered window displays at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York. Microsoft had invited people to submit messages to display on screens in the window by using a #holidaywindows hash tag on Twitter. Hundreds of pro-Mac messages appeared in the raw Twitter feed, causing the Mac faithful to think they had hijacked the public displays. But Microsoft says it was filtering the messages all along and none of the Mac-oriented tweets showed up in the windows.

Wired calls Windows 7 and Google's Chrome browser an "excellent" combination on netbooks. "The two together make pretty good use of a netbook’s most limited resources: screen size and processor power," writes Dylan Tweney for Wired.com's GadgetLab. "The result is a surprisingly pleasant combination for browsing, working in GMail and Google Docs, and other lightweight tasks." He notes that it's also a good sign for Google's plan to launch its own Chrome operating system next year, initially targeting netbooks.

Assessing Windows 7, one month later

In October, hoping to reduce expectations in advance of Windows 7's launch, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer noted that Windows Vista also received favorable reviews from testers prior to its launch. "I am optimistic," he told Bloomberg News in an interview about Windows 7, "but the proof will be in the pudding."

It's now more than one month since Windows 7's Oct. 22 debut, and that pudding is worth a closer look. That's because, at this point in Windows Vista's life cycle, there were clear signs of widespread problems. "Vista glitches frustrate first-wave users," was the headline on a Feb. 20, 2007, article in Newsday -- detailing what would turn out to be a rash of hardware and software compatibility problems.

So far, at least, Windows 7 seems to have avoided that type of debacle.

Of course, success is more than the avoidance of failure. And the upgrade to Windows 7 hasn't been without complication, particularly for people moving from Windows XP, or for students participating in Microsoft's discounted upgrade program. Windows 7 also hasn't gone unscathed from a security standpoint.

But sales of the new OS appear to be strong so far, my own experience running the operating system has been smooth, and favorable comments still outweigh complaints in the "Windows 7" Twitter search that I've been checking regularly during the month since the launch. I also haven't been hearing the types of complaints that I frequently did in Windows Vista's early days.

In fact, the biggest Windows 7 controversy so far has involved not the new operating system's performance, but the revelation that the National Security Agency worked with Microsoft and the Department of Defense to leverage its "unique expertise and operational knowledge of system threats and vulnerabilities to enhance Microsoft's operating system security guide," as an NSA official told a U.S. Senate subcommittee.

Understandably, that comment raised speculation and concerns that the NSA would be able to eavesdrop on Windows 7 users through a technological "backdoor" -- which Microsoft subsequently denied.

So what's next? Microsoft has started to hint about the next version of Windows Server coming in 2012, raising speculation about the timing of Windows 8 for PCs. But so far, at least, Microsoft's Windows president Steven Sinofsky isn't tipping his hand at all -- which means that the recipe for the next Windows will remain secret while people decide if they really like the one Microsoft just put on their plate.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Video: Is this reason enough to buy Windows 7?

Microsoft isn't typically known for wowing audience with its product demos, which may explain why this moment at the company's Windows 7 launch event in New York today impressed even some veteran company watchers. If Microsoft's goal was to make a statement and convince the skeptics that its new operating system is different, and much better, the attention-getting demonstration might have done the trick.

The feature, called "PlayTo," lets Windows 7 users stream content from a computer to devices and screens around a house. It was the capper for a series of slick demos by Brad Brooks, the Windows vice president for consumer marketing, during the company's Windows 7 launch event in New York City this morning.

Will be interesting to hear what people think after watching.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Thinking about shifting to Windows 7? Read this first

Windows 7 has arrived. After three years of development and testing, Microsoft is releasing the new operating system to the world Thursday with a full slate of festivities in New York and a remote ringing of the NASDAQ opening bell from the company's Redmond headquarters.

But the most interesting stuff will happen in homes around the globe, as people upgrade existing computers and boot up newly purchased PCs preloaded with Windows 7. If you plan to be one of those people, here's a guide to a bunch of online resources that should help.

WINDOWS 7 FEATURES: The uninitiated can get a quick sense for what Windows 7 can and can't do through reviews -- such as those published by CNet, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and USA Today. Read the glowing remarks with a grain of salt, however, because positive reviews don't necessarily translate into winning products -- as demonstrated by Windows Vista.

Also see our informal survey of Windows gurus for more on the pros and cons of the new operating system. Microsoft's official site offers descriptions and videos of many key Windows 7 features. And of course, there are already plenty of Windows 7 books available, as well, if you're interested in even more information.

SHOULD YOU UPGRADE? Maybe, maybe not. "If you have an existing machine, and you have Windows XP or Vista on it, don't feel overly pressured to go get Windows 7," said Jon Bach, president of Seattle-area custom computer builder Puget Systems, during our recent visit to his shop. "But if you're getting a new machine, yeah, I don't see any reason not to go with the latest and greatest."

If you decide to go for a new machine, you just might land yourself a deal. Microsoft and its industry partners are rolling out a series of special offers on new computers in the coming days -- starting with Best Buy's package of three computers, and more, for a total of $1,200. Watch the Windows home page for more.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: This Microsoft page lists the minimum specs your computer will need to run Windows 7 -- including a 1 GHz processor and 1GB of memory. In some cases, however, experts suggest exceeding those minimums significantly for an optimal experience. Bach, for example, recommends 4GB of memory.

Also check out Microsoft's Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, which scans a computer to see if it can run the new operating system. In addition, the Windows 7 Compatibility Center provides a sense for whether your devices and peripherals will work with Windows 7.

ALTERNATIVES: Of course, there's more to computing than Windows. Apple and IBM hope to persuade consumers and businesses to switch to Mac or Linux rather than moving to Microsoft's new version.

DECIPHERING WINDOWS 7 EDITIONS: The complexities of Microsoft's Windows product lineup remain a frequent target of criticism. This Microsoft page compares the many Windows 7 editions. As a rule of thumb, however, Microsoft says most consumers should go for Windows 7 Home Premium ($119.99 to upgrade from XP or Vista; $199.99 regular price) and most businesses should pick Windows 7 Professional ($199.99 upgrade; $299.99 regular price).

SOFTWARE DISCOUNTS: For college students, the cheapest route is to take advantage of this promotion in which Microsoft is offering Windows 7 for $30. And people planning to upgrade multiple Windows PCs should take a look at the Windows 7 Family Pack, which lets PC users upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium on up to three existing Windows Vista or XP computers for $149.99. That's more than $200 less than buying the upgrades individually.

UPGRADING FROM WINDOWS XP: Many people are still using Windows XP PCs. The good news is that Windows 7, unlike Windows Vista, has been fine-tuned to help it run on many older machines from the earlier Windows XP era. I've been running Windows 7 smoothly on an older IBM ThinkPad that originally came with Windows XP.

The bad news is that an upgrade on a Windows XP computer can be a pain in the butt, requiring users to back up their data and applications and make a fresh installation of Windows 7, then reinstall the data and applications after the new operating system is in place. Windows Vista users, in contrast, will be able to make an "in-place" upgrade, shifting to Windows 7 while preserving data and programs.

See our earlier post for more details: "Leaping from Windows XP to 7? Some important stuff to consider." If you're willing to spend some money to smooth the transition, Bellevue-based Laplink Software is offering its PCmover software and related tools to help people make the shift from Windows XP to Windows 7.

Do you have more questions about Windows 7? Email them to us here or submit them in the comments below, and we'll try to address them as soon as we can in updates to this post.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Windows 7, as seen through the eyes of Windows gurus

Many PC users around the world will be trying Windows 7 for the first time on Thursday, but testers and other techies have been using it for months, or more. To give the uninitiated a sense for what to expect, TechFlash.com contacted five Windows experts this week and asked them to name two things: their favorite Windows 7 feature, and the area where they feel Windows 7 most falls short of its potential.

Reflecting the generally positive regard for Windows 7 among early users, some of the experts struggled with the second question but had no problem coming up with a favorite feature. In fact, in some cases, the biggest problem seemed to be narrowing it down to one favorite.

Some of the more high-profile new features are user interface tricks such as Aero Shake and Aero Peek, but the authors, bloggers and analysts we contacted pointed to many other areas not quite as obvious. Here's a summary of their responses.

Ed Bott, blogger and coauthor of Windows 7 Inside Out

Favorite feature: "My favorite Windows 7 feature is Media Center, hands-down. It’s our DVR and our jukebox, with an interface that is genuinely usable and slick. And it rates highly on the most crucial metric of all: Spousal Acceptance Factor."

Biggest shortcoming: "I’m disappointed that there isn’t a good migration/upgrade story for XP users. Yes, there are options, but none of them are particularly fun or attractive. I understand Microsoft’s reason for choosing not to offer an XP upgrade path, but it’s still difficult for upgraders." (Windows XP users can use a lower-priced upgrade version of Windows 7, but they have to make a clean install that involves backing up and later restoring data and programs. Windows Vista users can avoid that hassle with an "in-place" upgrade.)

William Stanek, author, Windows 7: The Definitive Guide

Favorite feature: "My favorite Windows 7 feature is not so much a single feature, rather it is a super-set of features called Windows Recovery Environment (aka Windows RE). Windows RE is a safety net that you can use to repair your computer if it fails to start. The single-best thing about Windows RE and the reason I’m such a big fan: a Windows RE partition with all the related tools is created and configured automatically as part of Windows 7 installation. This means every computer running Windows 7 has Windows RE."

Biggest shortcoming: "Asking me to name the biggest shortfall about my favorite release of the Windows desktop OS ever? Ouch, that’s tough and it’d be a let down, not a shortfall, and it’s this: another one of my favorite features is found only in the Professional and higher editions. The feature: Windows XP Mode. Another sticking point for me is that the some of my favorite Vista included-in-the-box applications are now available as download only. You have to get the apps from Windows Live now and they’re very different from the originals."

Michael Cherry, analyst, Directions on Microsoft:

Favorite feature: The ability to run Windows 7 on low-priced netbook computers. "I am now running Windows 7 Professional Edition on a netbook with only 1GB of RAM, and I love its performance. ... If they can improve the performance profile at that end, then I'm going to love it even more on my Dell with a 64-bit processor and 4GB of RAM."

Biggest shortcoming: "I still don't like all of these versions, the different versions," Cherry said. "Too many, and too (difficult) to draw a line between them." He cited the example of BitLocker, a corporate data encryption system available in Windows 7 Enterprise Edition but not in Windows 7 Professional. A better approach, he said, would be for Microsoft to offer one low-priced version that can be configured for different "roles," as the company does with Windows Server, installing only the features needed by a particular type of user.

Paul Thurrott, Windows SuperSite; coauthor, Windows 7 Secrets

Favorite feature: "There's no one, major new feature -- it's a bunch of little things, it seems. I guess if pressed, I would probably go with the taskbar, and the features that come off of that, like the customizability and the Jump Lists, which are essentially per-application Start menus, which I think is really exciting and interesting."

Biggest shortcoming: None in particular. "You have to look at it in light of the previous release, because this is an update of Vista. This in many ways is correcting that problem. This is a refinement of what came before, not a brand-new thing. For that reason, they've already covered the bases I think with all of the big complaints last time around."

Woody Leonhard, Windows guru; contributing editor to Windows Secrets

Favorite feature: HomeGroup. "It makes sharing among Windows 7 computers very easy," Leonhard said.

Biggest shortcoming: Difficult to pinpoint one. Setting up television and some other media isn't as easy as it could be, and there are too many versions of the operating system. "But other than that, Windows 7 is great," he said. "It really is the best version of Windows ever. I think they've finally hit a home run."

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Tools to tell whether Windows 7 will work with your stuff

Here's some important information for anyone thinking about upgrading to Microsoft's new Windows 7 on an existing machine, or using an existing device or peripheral (such as a printer or camera) with a new Windows 7 PC. Microsoft today released a new version of its Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, which scans a computer to see if it can run the new operating system; along with a Windows 7 Compatibility Center, letting you see if your devices will work with Windows 7.

They're part of the Redmond company's effort to ensure a smooth Windows 7 launch, following the widespread compatibility problems that hampered Windows Vista's debut three years ago.

Although many people will get Windows 7 when they buy new PCs, the automated Windows 7 Upgrade Adviser will help those who want to install it on machines currently running Windows Vista or the older Windows XP. (If you're upgrading from XP, be sure to see our earlier tips and tricks for handling that process.)

The Windows 7 Compatibility Center lets you search for your devices and peripherals by name, letting you know whether or not they're expected to be compatible with the new operating system.

As a bonus, the Compatibility Center provides a broad look at the status of the industry's preparedness for Windows 7, with the launch a couple days away. For example, as of this afternoon, a search on the Compatibility Center returns about 950 multifunction printers that are compatible with 32-bit versions of Windows 7, and 38 that aren't. Overall, about 630 digital cameras are categorized as compatible. At this point, at least, none are listed as incompatible.

See this post on Microsoft's Windows team blog for more details on how the tools work.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Icon of Windows 95 back on board for Windows 7

In the process of covering the Windows Vista launch in January 2007, I made a point of looking up a guy in New Zealand named Jonathan Prentice. That might seem random, but Prentice has a unique history with Windows. As a college student in the mid-1990s, his enthusiasm and time zone made him a worldwide symbol of the excitement over Windows 95 as the first person in the world to buy the highly anticipated operating system.

In other words, in terms of gauging consumer reaction to a product, Prentice is to Windows what Mikey was to Life cereal.

Three years ago, it turned out that Prentice was significantly less than excited about Windows Vista -- foreshadowing the lackluster response the product would ultimately receive in the marketplace.

When it comes to Windows 7, however, he's back on the Microsoft bandwagon. As I noted in this TechFlash.com story this morning, Prentice has been running test versions of Windows 7 for several months, and he likes it. He really likes it. Mostly.

Now 33, Prentice (pictured at right) runs a technology consulting business with offices in Auckland and Wellington. Via email this week, he described his experience with Windows 7 in response to my questions. Read on for excerpts from his message, which should be informative for anyone considering the upgrade.

I’ve been using Windows 7 personally for months. I downloaded the betas and have run 2 different versions of the beta and am now running the RTM version on my laptop. As soon as it was available I got rid of Vista in the hope that 7 was better and I was certainly not disappointed. I love the advances in the interface, they have delivered on their promise of a much more intuitive and simple to use interface and have removed some of the pains from Vista.

I actually found it faster than Vista from the first time I installed it and have been enjoying it ever since. A couple of small issues with driver compatibility but those are now resolved and they were for things that weren’t essential.

This is a huge improvement from the heavy slug that Vista is, even though [Vista] was still better than XP (as long as you had the resources to run it).

I still don’t like the control panel wizard thing and I turn it back to classic mode immediately and the user intervention and warning stuff drives me nuts but I’m an IT geek and this stuff is meant to protect end users so I understand the value it has but I still hate it.

Microsoft will always be Microsoft and not much really changes from that perspective. People in general are always skeptical of their new releases and what can you expect from some of the past performances but to be perfectly honest they have done what no Windows OS has done before and actually produced a pretty damned good OS without needing a service pack to make it usable from an end user perspective. Although I’m sure one will be out soon enough.

What would I say to someone running Vista when 7 is released? Upgrade, upgrade as fast as you can. What would I say to a corporate looking to replace their desktop equipment? Probably stick with XP for the moment but “watch this space” closely as it’s a vast improvement on XP overall.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Apple planning its own Windows 7 pitch: Buy a Mac instead

Despite positive reviews for Windows 7, the upgrade process for the millions of people still using the older Windows XP won't be simple. Unlike the shift from the newer Windows Vista, the move from Windows XP to Windows 7 requires a clean installation -- which means backing up data before installing Windows 7, then restoring data and reinstalling applications after the new OS is on the machine.

As we noted earlier this week, the Mac blogs have been having lots of fun poking fun at the process. And now Apple itself is looking to capitalize on the situation.

"Any user that reads all those steps is probably going to freak out," Apple executive Phil Schiller tells BusinessWeek's Peter Burrows in a story getting lots of attention in the tech world today. "If you have to go through all that, why not just buy a Mac?"

Apple is looking to build on the Mac's existing momentum. Numbers released yesterday by the IDC research firm showed Mac shipments rising to 9.4 percent of the U.S. market in the third quarter, from 8.6 percent a year earlier.

According to the BusinessWeek story, Apple is expected to highlight the complexity of the XP-to-7 upgrade process in upcoming advertisements. Burrows reports that the company also "will likely make the case that Macs are less susceptible to viruses and are best suited to its popular iPods and iPhones."

Video: First Windows 7 PCs make early debut

Custom computer maker Puget Systems Inc. is shipping Windows 7 computers to its customers starting today -- more than a week before the operating system's scheduled Oct. 22 release -- taking advantage of a loophole in the distribution process for small system builders. Some customers in the Seattle region were expected to pick up their new Windows 7 machines in person as early as this afternoon.

We visited the company's facility in Auburn, Wash., to witness the assembly and packaging of the early Windows 7 computers. For the broader industry, it's the beginning of a rollout that Microsoft hopes will revive the reputation of its flagship product. In these video highlights from our visit, Puget Systems president Jon Bach also offers advice and tips for people contemplating Windows 7.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Microsoft's Windows 7, as viewed by the Mac faithful

What is it about operating system launches that get computer geeks so riled up? Judging from the early reviews, at least, Microsoft's Windows 7 appears headed for a successful debut -- promising to erase from our collective memory all those problems we had just getting our printers to work with Vista.

But rather than waiting for Oct. 22 to try Windows 7 and judge for themselves, some of the popular Apple enthusiast blogs are taking a hard line and looking for every opportunity to declare Microsoft's new OS a disaster even before it hits store shelves.

Last week Mac Daily News picked apart a favorable but evenhanded Windows 7 review by the Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg. And today Mac Observer is spotlighting a Microsoft video tutorial that explains how to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7.

"We'll be honest, it could take a couple hours," concedes Kellie Eickmeyer, a Windows senior program manager, at the outset of the video.

The problem, as we've documented in the past, is that the upgrade from Windows XP requires a clean install, backing up data and applications and then reinstalling them after Windows 7 is on the machine. The shift from the newer Windows Vista to Windows 7 can be done "in place," sidestepping that hassle.

As Mossberg pointed out in his WSJ review last week, "It’s tedious and painful to upgrade an existing computer from XP to 7, and the variety of editions in which Windows 7 is offered is confusing."

But at least Microsoft is being up front about it. And don't forget that Windows XP is almost 8 years old. Given the underlying changes in computers since then, some level of difficulty is to be expected.

Yes, it's Microsoft's fault that so many people are still using the ancient operating system. Many of them are terrified about upgrading to Vista, given all the problems the OS has experienced with device and application compatibility. Apple, in contrast, deserves credit for steady advances and regular releases of Mac OS X.

But we'd challenge even the most expert Mac user to make the upgrade to Snow Leopard from Mac OS X 10.1 "Puma" -- released around the same time as Windows XP -- in less than two hours.

Oh wait, that's right, Puma ran on PowerPC machines, and Snow Leopard requires Intel processors. In other words, we'd challenge the most expert Mac user to make that upgrade at all.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Windows Vista holdout Intel endorses Windows 7

The Windows Vista era was a rocky one for Microsoft and Intel, longtime partners in the "Wintel" alliance. First, during Vista's development, Intel started playing both sides of the fence by working with Apple. Later, as Windows Vista was being prepared for release, Microsoft loosened an important standard for the operating system to help Intel unload some older chips -- triggering a huge behind the scenes mess that was revealed in a subsequent lawsuit.

Then, despite fine-tuning its processors for the new operating system, Intel decided to skip Windows Vista in its own operations -- effectively kicking the beleaguered Microsoft program when it was down.

But with Windows 7, it looks like all is well between them again.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer cites Intel as one of the early corporate adopters of Windows 7 in an open email issued to the Redmond company's partners and customers this morning. Ballmer says Windows 7 is providing Intel employees with "improved performance, greater application responsiveness, and a better platform for mobile workers."

Intel released a study yesterday talking in glowing terms about its experience with the new operating system.

"After 3 months of trial with over 300 users, 97% of our test users would recommend the new OS to peers and Intel IT sees the potential to save $11M over the next three years," the abstract reads. "Because of improved employee productivity, reduced costs, ease of deployment and enhanced security, Intel IT is rolling out Windows 7 to early adopters this year and enterprise deployments starting early 2010."

Ford, another Microsoft partner, is also upgrading to Windows 7, according to the Ballmer email. Bloomberg News cites Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Continental Airlines as early Windows 7 adopters, as well, noting that Intel currently has 500 of its workers using the new operating system.

The companies appeared with Ballmer at an event in San Francisco today to talk about Microsoft's upcoming and recently released PC and server software technologies.

Windows 7 is scheduled for public release Oct. 22.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Microsoft's Windows Ads: Finally Good?

Microsoft's Windows advertising gurus made us suffer through Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld, and Churros, before providing slightly more interesting food for thought with the company's Laptop Hunters ads.

But the advertisements for Windows 7, like the software itself, finally seem to be hitting the right notes.

These are a few in a series of ads that debuted recently on the Windows YouTube channel. Not only do they identify the product being marketed (something that Gates and Seinfeld inexplicably struggled to accomplish) but they actually demonstrate some features and show what the software can do. For the record, however, SeattlePI.com's Nick Eaton reports that the ads aren't expected to be on television.

Hat tip to Emil Protalinski at Ars Technica for spotting these.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Microsoft wants XP fans to give it up for Windows 7

Microsoft has been haunted for years by the ghost of Windows XP -- the 8-year-old operating system that many big businesses still view as good enough for their purposes and far less painful than upgrading to its successor, Windows Vista. More than 200,000 people supported InfoWorld's "Save Windows XP" campaign, and corporate tech buyers have mastered complex "downgrade rights" to stick with it.

Now, with the new Windows 7 available for large enterprises to use, the company's conversations with those customers are starting to sound like someone counseling a friend stuck in an unhealthy relationship: Get over it! There's something better out there for you!

That's the message Microsoft is delivering this morning -- releasing a big batch of case studies and research aimed at persuading its largest customers to move to the new version of its operating system.

The blitz is focused primarily on Microsoft's volume-licensing customers, who have the right to upgrade to new versions of software during the life of their contracts. Those customers are a big part of Microsoft's business, and the company wants them to renew their deals when their existing agreements expire. It's not an easy sell, given Windows Vista's repeated delays and disappointing tenure. Just last week, the Directions on Microsoft Research firm issued a new warning about the complexity of the volume-licensing agreements.

Microsoft is hoping that Windows 7 will help convince customers that there's still value in the deals.

"What we're really doing is saying, 'Hey, you own it. Deploy it, and get off of XP. Move on," said Gavriella Schuster, a Windows general manager, in an interview last week. "Throughout Vista what a lot of customers did is they brought new hardware into their environment and then they standardized back to XP. It's like, don't do that! Run a heterogenous environment for a bit, until you get everybody on 7, but you're going to save money when you get everybody to 7, so try to get there as soon as you can."

[Previously: Leaping from Windows XP to 7? Some important stuff to consider]

A big part of today's push is a new Forrester Consulting study -- commissioned by Microsoft -- that concludes that companies are very focused these days on cutting technology costs, supporting remote workers, boosting employee productivity and improving the overall level security of their information and networks. Microsoft is publicizing the findings to make the case for Windows 7's enterprise features. Some of them, including BranchCache and DirectAccess, work in conjunction with Microsoft's Windows Server 2008 R2 release.

More broadly, Microsoft is making the case that companies will be able to save money by using Windows 7, particularly with a new version of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, scheduled for release at the end of October.

Microsoft this morning is releasing a series of case studies from companies and organizations including the City of Miami and UK professional services firm Baker Tilly. The studies focus on areas including application deployment, IT help desk calls, unauthorized application installation, and power consumption. Overall, Microsoft says the case studies show that companies can save anywhere from $89 to $160 per year, per computer, in IT labor costs, or roughly 10 percent to 20 percent.

Windows 7 was made available to Microsoft's volume-licensing customers Aug. 7, and it's scheduled to be released to the public Oct. 22.

Of course, there's always Windows 7's Windows XP Mode for anyone who just isn't ready for the big breakup.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Microsoft's first Windows 7 ad tries to build on positive buzz

Microsoft will try to leverage the positive buzz surrounding Windows 7 starting tonight with a new television ad highlighting the favorable reviews received by the operating system in advance of its Oct. 22 launch. If Kylie in the commercial looks familiar, it's because you've seen her in a Windows campaign in the past.

AdAge.com first reported details of the commercial today, quoting a Microsoft advertising manager, Gayle Troberman, explaining that Microsoft wants to highlight the positive buzz about the new operating system, in contrast with Apple's strategy -- which she said "may be more about attacking and slamming."

Microsoft is walking a fine line with an ad like this, because it's setting high expectations for the new operating system in the minds of consumers. Then again, it's notable that the selected quotes focus on practical characteristics such as stability and responsiveness.

In other words, the message is that Windows 7 will improve your computing experience. In contrast, the Windows Vista ads -- "the Wow is Now" -- seemed to reach for something much bigger, that ultimately wasn't supported by the product.

The Windows 7 commercial debuts tonight on the CW's "Vampire Diaries." It's not the actual Windows 7 launch campaign. Microsoft hasn't yet shared details of its plans for the launch, or how much it plans to spend, but it's expected to focus more then on the promised benefits and features of the operating system.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Microsoft: Host an official party for Windows 7, get a free copy

Microsoft is putting a Tupperware-style twist on the upcoming Windows 7 rollout -- launching a new initiative to encourage thousands of employees, partners and technology enthusiasts to throw parties in their homes and communities to demonstrate and help spread the word about its new operating system.

People accepted as official launch party hosts will get their own copy of Windows 7 Ultimate Edition, and a chance to win a computer.

But unlike the Tupperware model, there will be no literal selling. These parties are more about generating word-of-mouth buzz. And based on early reviews, at least, it appears that this version of Microsoft's flagship product will be somewhat more compelling than a plastic storage container.

Of course, the fact that people would need to be invited to a Windows launch shows just how much things have changed for the company and the industry. Windows 95's launch had them lining up around the block.

But the plan also shows Microsoft's confidence in Windows 7. After all, nothing would kill the party like a system crash or a buggy device driver. Those kinds of problems plagued the January 2007 launch of Windows Vista, creating a negative reputation that Microsoft is eager to put behind itself. Windows 7 has won praise so far for its stability and compatibility with devices and software.

The company isn't yet talking publicly about the house party plan, but the basics are laid out on the site of House Party Inc., an event and direct marketing company that has worked with Microsoft on Xbox events. Engadget also posted an item, and I was able to confirm additional details with people who know about the plan.

Microsoft is calling them "launch parties" rather than house parties, because it doesn't want to limit the venues to homes. The company is expected to suggest other possible locations including cafes or malls.

Invitations to host parties will be sent to House Party's user base and Windows 7 testers and enthusiasts. Microsoft employees in qualifying countries are getting a message inviting them to host parties, as well.

Other people can apply to be hosts via the House Party site, but it notes that slots are "very limited."

Aspiring hosts who are accepted into the program will pick one of four "party themes" and receive special "party packs" (contents not yet disclosed) to help them throw their events -- plus a "signature edition" of Windows 7 Ultimate to keep afterward. Non-Microsoft employees who throw parties will also be eligible for a sweepstakes to win a mini-notebook computer worth $750.

Microsoft employees in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Hong Kong, Japan, Spain, Italy and India are expected to host parties between Oct. 8 and 12, prior to Windows 7's debut. The company is encouraging employees in other markets to host parties, as well, although they won't have the benefit of the House Party support or the special party packs.

Members of the public who are accepted into the House Party program would hold their sanctioned Windows 7 parties anytime between the Oct. 22 launch and Oct. 29.

Separately, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is expected to host the company's big Windows 7 launch party Oct. 22 -- not at his home, at least not on that day, but rather in New York City.

Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop

Previous Coverage

Leaping from Windows XP to Windows 7? Important stuff to consider

Details: Microsoft's Windows 7 price cuts, upgrade promotions

Windows 7 Family Pack pricing, and details on 'Anytime Upgrade'