Windows 7 ... A Vista Extreme Makeover

Microsoft displaces Google on Verizon wireless handsets as it attempts to pass-rush Google in the consumer market. Steve Ballmer's first CES keynote last night did not include the typical futuristic products people can't buy yet. Instead, they focused on practical applications like Windows 7, the successor to Windows Vista. He even took a swipe at Apple saying the "the most power and most value for the money is a PC." If Microsoft operating systems were home videos, Windows Vista would be Blu-Ray and Windows 7 would be Blu-ray with 3D glasses. Just like Windows XP put a new face on Windows 2000, Windows 7 is more of a marketing makeover with new features that appeal to MAC users (maybe). Most analysts do not recommend enterprises skip Vista because for one reason they just advised them to move forward with deployment (oops). Besides, there aren't enough improvements to wait a 20010 release cycle of Windows 7 SP1. Most beta testers however are saying this release is further along than Vista was at this stage. Microsoft is trying to get it right. The Quick Launch bar even went the way of Rowdy with the Dallas Cowboys, that's a good start.