Microsoft Windows 7 pre-orders zoom on AmazonMicrosoft’s Windows 7 sets new pre-order record
16 July 2009
Consumer demand for Microsoft’s upcoming operating system, Windows 7, has set a new record for pre-ordering Windows, according to online store Amazon.
Advance sales of the new operating system – slated for release in October - were so high that more copies were ordered in its first eight hours on the site than in the entire 17-week pre-order period of current system Windows Vista, according to Amazon.
Unlike Windows Vista which looked very different to its predecessor, XP, Windows 7 is not a ground-up rewrite. It promises to be a collection of slight improvements on Vista that add up to a better whole. For example, home networking will be simplified and the operating system will have touch screen technology built-in, although this function requires a compatible display.
Windows 7 launch
Since its launch in 2007, Windows Vista has sold over 140 million copies worldwide. However, it was criticised in some quarters for being slow and incompatible with some programs and devices such as low-specification netbooks.
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Microsoft claims that Windows 7 will demand fewer system resources, and should be compatible with older desktop and laptop computers.
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Both the consumer and business version of the operating are being heavily discounted by Amazon. (Windows 7 Home Premium is being discounted at £44.97 while Windows 7 Professional is available for pre-order for £89.97.)
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