The key to Windows 7 success: Media coverage

We’re now between six months and a year away from the release of Microsoft’s latest and possibly greatest operating system, Windows 7. And the signs are looking good that Seven will finally put the Vista debacle to bed once and for all. But what could make or break Windows 7 is the media coverage it receives.

When Vista was released, there were a few noticeable problems with it. The hardware requirements, pricing, and system bloat were all immediately seized upon. Then there were the restrictive licensing terms, the introduction of DRM protection, and the amount of software and hardware that wasn’t compatible with the new OS.

Most of these issues were either dealt with by the two Service Packs released so far, or just required time for people to adjust. A bigger problem however, and one that still refuses to die to this day, is the difference between Windows XP and Vista. They are legion, and those of us who had come to love XP found it hard to adjust.

This led to the biggest problem Vista had, and still has to this day: negative media coverage. It started out badly, with both bloggers and the traditional press ripping Vista to shreds even before it was released. And then it carried on. The problem was that while a lot of people actually grew to love Vista and see it as superior to XP, the negative press had seeped into the mainstream where it still resides to this day.

Microsoft knows Vista is unloved by many and so started working on Windows 7 forthwith in an attempt to replace the OS as quickly as possible. The thing is, many people who have downloaded and sampled the latest beta version of Seven are stating how similar it is to Vista. It’s built on the same architecture but does everything better than its predecessor.

And guess what? Windows 7 is getting some very positive press coverage. The reviews of the early builds are encouraging, with many writers stating its good points rather than focusing on its bad. And the mood of positivity seems to be spreading, with many Vista haters reportedly ready to give Seven a try.

This positive media coverage is why I think Windows 7 will be a big success, at least if the trend continues through its release and beyond. Rightly or wrongly, people listen to what journalists and bloggers say about a product and can base their opinion on hearsay. negative media coverage killed Vista for many but positive media coverage could prove to be the key to success for Windows 7.

[Via Ars Technica]

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