Enterprise Applications: Microsoft Windows 7's Successful First Year: 10 Lessons Learned

Microsoft is celebrating the one-year anniversary of Windows 7 in style. The software company reported recently that it has sold an impressive 240 million Windows 7 licenses in its first year of availability. That figure makes the operating system the fastest-selling Windows version in the software giant's long and storied history. In addition, Microsoft said that as of September, Windows 7 is running on 93 percent of all new consumer PCs. Microsoft's feat is nothing short of astounding. Windows 7 was the follow-up to the widely despised Windows Vista. Upon its release, some wondered if Microsoft could regain its focus and overcome the issues it faced with the operating system's predecessor. Luckily for Microsoft, it has done just that. But in doing so, Microsoft has learned some things about itself, the market and Windows 7. Most of all it has learned what it must do to fend off continuing challenges from Google and Apple. Read on to find out what the software giant learned as it capitalized on Windows 7's first year of availability.