Windows 7 flying off the shelves
By Stuart Turton
Posted on 20 Nov 2009 at 08:16
Windows 7's good reviews are being matched by sales, according to Microsoft's chief executive Steve Ballmer.
"We've already sold twice as many units of Windows 7 as any other OS we've ever launched in a comparable time period," Ballmer told investors at the company's annual shareholder meeting. "So we're really off to quite a fantastic start with the Windows 7 product."
Ballmer didn't specify how many copies that equated to, but given that Microsoft claimed to have sold 20 million copies of Vista in its first month, that would put sales of Windows 7 at 40 million.
Of course, promotional copies of Windows 7 were heavily discounted with retailers including Amazon offering Home Premium for £50, a third of its listed price.
The tactic was so successful that Windows 7 became Amazon's biggest grossing pre-order product at Amazon.co.uk, outstripping even Harry Potter and the Nintendo Wii.
According to the analysis firm Net Applications, Windows 7's market share currently stands at 4%, easily surpassing Vista's sales during the corresponding time frame.
However, Ballmer had another explanation for its early success. "Windows 7 is simply the best PC OS that we or anyone else has ever built," he said.
He was also asked to explain how the company was reacting to the growing popularity of Apple's iPhones, with one investor claiming Microsoft had a "bad image among the younger generation."
"Certainly our objective is to have the leading position," Ballmer said, referring to the iPhone. "I think we have a lot of opportunity to improve... Undoubtedly we've got our work cut out for us."
However, he was far more bullish when asked about the success of Macs. "Ninety six times out of 100, worldwide, people choose a PC with Windows. People understand that Macintoshes are quite a bit more expensive."
From around the web
"Ninety six times out of 100, worldwide, people choose a PC with Windows. People understand that Macintoshes are quite a bit more expensive."
How is that 'bullish'??? That's as gentlemanly as you'll ever get from Ballmer. As a statement I wouldn't even classify it as big-headed, let alone bullish.
By Josefov on 20 Nov 2009 ![]()
Product Placement
"Harry Potter and the Nintendo Wii"? These commercial tie-ins are getting very irritating.
By The_Scrote on 20 Nov 2009 ![]()
@ Scrote
Nice.
By verdot on 20 Nov 2009 ![]()
Yes.. well
"reacting to the growing popularity of Apple's iPhones, with one investor claiming Microsoft had a "bad image among the younger generation." "
He clearly hasn't had any money problems, or he'd know why young people can't afford a Mac or an iPhone.
By cheysuli on 20 Nov 2009 ![]()
Product Placement
"Harry Potter and the Nintendo Wii"? These commercial tie-ins are getting very irritating.
By The_Scrote on 20 Nov 2009 ![]()
Oops
Can someone delete my dupe post above?
By The_Scrote on 20 Nov 2009 ![]()
advertisement
- Chrome's shine getting lost in translation
- BytePac: the cardboard hard disk enclosure
- How tech loosens our grip on reality
- Hokum watch: Safer Internet Day
- Why I'm deleting Adobe from my PC
- Prepare to be patronised: it's Safer Internet Day
- Dear Sony, Samsung and every other tech company in the world: stop trying to be Apple
- Will Apple's Final Cut Pro X update placate the pros?
- Smartr Contacts for iPhone review
- Switching to Office 365's Outlook Web App
- Why virtualisation hasn't slowed the growth of data
- How to make Google AdWords work for your business
- The curse of sloppily written software
- Paying for your crimes with Bitcoin
- Behind the scenes: tech support for Formula 1
- The security risk of fat fingers
- Why Windows Phone 7 isn't quite ready for business
- When will Microsoft stop fiddling with Windows 8?
- Flash down the pan?
- Metro Style apps vs desktop applications
advertisement
