Talk about a strange move by Microsoft. The Windows 7 Release Candidate is now available for download to selected audiences, with broader availability expected May 5. Kudos, Microsoft. Solid progress. But why is Microsoft depending on endorsements from Corel Corp. to help evangelize Windows 7? Is the Windows ISV program stuck in 1995?
By most accounts, Windows 7 represents a solid step forward for Microsoft. When Windows 7 officially arrives, it should introduce healthy competition in the desktop market, where plenty of users grew frustrated with Windows Vista and some even headed to Mac OS X and Linux.
Microsfot on April 30 said the Windows 7 release Candidate is now available for download to MSDN and TechNet subscribers at http://technet.microsoft.com. Broader public availability will begin May 5 on the Microsoft Download Center at http://microsoft.com/downloads.
Praying for Help?
Now, for the problem at hand: Can’t Microsoft find any prominent, powerful, relevant ISVs (independent software vendors) to endorse Windows 7? An April 30 press release from the Mighty Microsoft for some reason includes a quote from Corel.
“With the upcoming introduction of Windows 7, Microsoft’s new operating system will redefine how people think about computing,” said Joe Roberts, executive vice president, Products for Corel Corp. “Drawing on our customer research, we’re building new creative consumer applications that take advantage of the solid performance and powerful touch capabilities Windows 7 offers to turn the typical user experience of mouse clicks and menus on its head — completely changing how users interact with Corel’s creative software.”
No offense to Corel, but is Microsoft stuck in 1995? Perhaps it’s time to dial Philippe Kahn, Jim Manzi or Peter Norton for some feel-good Windows 7 endorsements. Can’t Microsoft find anyone a bit more relevant in 2009 than Corel to praise Windows 7?
- Is anybody using Windows 7 as a platform to design or test next-generation Web applications?
- Are there any killer Windows 7 applications on the way? If so, from whom?
- Bueller?… Bueller?… Bueller?
The VAR Guy concedes: Perhaps this blog entry contains chatter about nothing. But Microsoft’s decision to put Corel in the spotlight certainly raises questions about the state of Windows 7 ISV support and innovation.
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Could be Karma. Microsoft did do an awful lot of last minute changes in Vista leaving a lot of developers pretty miffed and out of pocket in terms of development man hours.
Karma, indeed. The VAR Guy is actually rooting for Windows 7. Always good to see healthy desktop competition. And a better Windows will lead Linux and Apple camps to deliver better versions of their respective products.