Smooth Move Ex-Lax: Microsoft Ends Windows 7 Family Pack

Microsoft, facing stiff competition from Apple on its launch of Windows 7, let its Windows 7 Family Pack offer expire just when it would be to its advantage to continue the offer.

From the outset, the Family Pack was offered as a limited time discount allowing a household to upgrade 3 PC’s to Windows 7 for only $150.  Each PC would regularly cost $129-200 each without the discount.

Apple markets an upgrade to its OS X for only $29 and many analysts suggested that Microsoft follow suit with lower pricing to attack Apple’s competitive position, especially since the Vista OS was such a disappointment in the PC market.

Microsoft Hosts Shareholder Meeting; Windows Sales “Fantastic”

Speaking Thursday at the company’s annual meeting, Ballmer said Windows 7 sales are “fantastic,” but provided no numbers to support his claim.   The Wall Street Journal estimates that Microsoft has sold 40 million copies sold since the new operating system’s Oct. 22 release.

“Windows 7 is the simply best PC operating system we have ever built,” Ballmer said. “It enables people to do more of what they want to do more easily and more quickly, and customers are responding.”

Dell, HP Customers Upset With Windows 7 Delays

Computerworld reports that Dell & HP customers are angry due to delays in the shipping of Windows 7 media as promised under the Windows 7 Upgrade Option program.  The program is supposed to ship replacement media to customers on or about October 22nd, the date of the Windows 7 launch. Customers are being notified that their orders are on backorder and could take many more weeks.

The Upgrade Option Program is designed to help PC manufacturers address possible slowdowns in sales due to the introduction of a new Microsoft Operating system. Introduced with the launch of Windows XP and replicated for Vista and Windows 7, consumers are able to purchase a PC within some number of months of the Operating System launch and receive the free (or discounted) upgrade to Windows 7.

Will Netbook Customers Be Disappointed By Windows 7 Starter?

Microsoft, in order to encourage notebook purchases, has made a point of removing certain features crippling from Windows 7 to create the ‘Starter Edition’. This version which is only available on Netbooks and Nettops (MSFT has specific requirements and limitations which vary over time) is missing many features of Windows 7. Even if you purchase a DVD player, the OS does not include DVD playback software. Other features are probably less important including Windows Media Center, The “Aero” (processor hogging) interface, and Windows XP mode.

Originally, Starter Edition was only going to allow 3 concurrently running applications, in the guise of protecting users from systems slowing down (netbooks usually have lower processor and memory capabilities). That option was removed at the request of PC manufacturers.

Question is, will this impact the experience for netbook customers and lead to dissatisfaction? We here at Observer Publishing aren’t so sure. Netbook customers hopefully understand that these systems have inherent limitations. The missing features shouldn’t impact usability and might even help ensure that they have adequate processing power.

PC Sales Spike by 40% During Windows 7 Launch

According to NPD sales data, the launch of Windows 7 triggered a 40% increase in sales as compared to the same week the previous year.

Morgan Stanley analyst Katheryn Hubert declined to predict whether or not the sales spike is evidence of a major trend or simply a temporary burst as those who had waited for Windows 7 buy their new systems. Microsoft’s own CEO believes the OS will have little impact in the long term and that most will simply get Windows 7 in the same time it normally takes them to replace a given PC.

Here at the Microsoft Observer, we believe that while not an early predictor of any success of the Windows 7 product, the spike suggests that consumers may think better of the updated operating system compared to Windows Vista.

Black Friday Is Rapidly Approaching!

The Black Friday flyers are slowly trickling out and we here at Observer Publishing will keep you updated on the best deals out in shoppingland. We know that you’re looking for the best deals on Windows 7 PCs, Xbox games and consoles and the latest Microsoft Zune player.

Stay tuned, intrepid Observers!

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