Windows - eWeek

Windows: Scenes from Microsoft's Big Windows 7 Show in NYC


NEW YORK—Microsoft launched Windows 7, its new operating system, in a high-profile event in New York Oct. 22. Headlined by CEO Steve Ballmer and even featuring an appearance by Kylie, the 5-year-old who stars in many television spots in Microsoft's latest ad campaign, the event was designed to show Windows 7 as having a simple, understandable interface that allows the user to carry out networking and multimedia functions with ease.

As part of the presentation, Microsoft ushered media and guests into a special exhibit area where many PCs, including laptops and desktops with touch-screen functionality, were on display. The hope for Microsoft and many of its partners is that the release of Windows 7 will spark an increase in PC sales.
 
  • Before the Windows 7 launch event, media and guests were ushered into a corridor filled with paintings of Windows 7 wallpapers, which have been noted for their eclectic nature.
  • Media and guests await entrance into the auditorium before the rollout of Windows 7. Microsoft designed a high-profile event to generate positive publicity for the operating system.
  • The event's oversized screens displayed a variety of media, ranging from Microsoft's Windows 7 ad campaign to a product demo of the operating system.
  • Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer took the stage after being introduced by Kylie, the 5-year-old who stars in many of Microsoft's latest Windows 7 ads.
  • Windows 7 will give users an experience that's "simpler and faster," Ballmer told the audience during his keynote remarks.
  • Ballmer described the network of designers, partners and customers who contributed to the construction of Windows 7 as its "secret sauce."
  • Brad Brooks, corporate vice president of Windows Consumer Marketing and Product Management at Microsoft, gave a run-through of Windows 7's media capabilities.
  • Brooks demonstrated how Microsoft's embrace of the cloud allows a Windows 7 interface to run on not only PCs, but also televisions and smartphones.
  • Part of the presentation focused on HomeGroups, a Windows 7 feature that allows devices and new PCs to be seamlessly integrated into a home network.
  • Brooks demonstrated the customizable nature of user libraries in Windows 7.
  • Windows 7's networking abilities allow different types of media and applications to be run on a wide variety of screens within a network simultaneously, as Brooks demonstrated by playing a number of videos as well as music.
  • After the keynote addresses, Microsoft ushered guests into a separate area containing PCs and televisions running Windows 7.
  • Ballmer observed Windows 7 operating on a series of laptops, including ones equipped with touch-screen functionality.
  • Microsoft has signed partnerships with a number of companies, including CBS and Amazon.com, to port everything from TV shows to Kindle books onto devices running Windows 7.
  • Microsoft's partners, such as Dell, are hoping Windows 7 will spur an increase in PC sales this holiday season. Here, Dell's Adamo ultrathin notebook is shown running the new operating system.
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