Science & Technology World

lthough no one waits in long lines for a new edition of Windows
anymore, the debut of (Nasdaq: MSFT) latest software that runs
PCs is part of why buying a computer is starting to feel fun for the
first time in years. is expected to work better than its predecessor,
Vista. At the same time, Microsoft's has gotten savvier, and PC
makers (Nasdaq: AAPL) lead by improving hardware design. Computers
with the Windows operating system suddenly seem a lot "If you line up
the six or seven most interesting PC designs, people will say, 'Wow.
I didn't know all of that could be done with a PC,'" Microsoft CEO
Steve Ballmer said in an interview. Liking It, Not Just Tolerating It
Windows 7 , which became available Thursday, is designed to look
cleaner than Vista, streamlining the ways people can get to work, with
fewer clicks and fewer annoying notifications. Setting up home
networking to share photos and music won't require an advanced
degree in information technology. Plugging in a new device won't set
off a mad hunt online for driver software, which tells the equipment
how to work with an operating system. Making a version of Windows
that people like, rather than tolerate, is critical for Microsoft.
Most people don't choose Windows as much as they end up with it,
because it's familiar and affordable. However, it's conceivable
Microsoft will have to work harder to win people over, thanks to a
small but growing threat from Apple's Macs and a forthcoming PC
operating system from Web search nemesis Google ( Nasdaq: GOOG) .
Vista fell flat because it didn't work with many existing programs
and hardware. Microsoft fixed many of Vista's flaws but didn't spread
the word, instead allowing Apple to attack with ads that pit a dorky
office stiff (PC) against a casual creative type (Mac) and paint Vista
PCs as unjustifiably complex.