The guys from TECHARP published a Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Program. This contains the information that Vista users can upgrade for free to Windows 7, beginning 1st of July. Not everyone can upgrade to everything and if youre using Windows Home for example you might not be able to upgrade at all, but if you ask me it’s a beginning.
Although I don’t hate Vista, as I never really had problems using it, I am looking forward to getting the free upgrade. I bought a new laptop a little more than one year ago and not being able to optimise it with good(?) software would have been a shame. While a free upgrade is already available – it’s called Ubuntu 
– I don’t see a reason to make fun of Windows 7 generally. I think every operating system has it’s flaws. At Appples WWDC 2009 Keynote, Bertrand Serlet showed that he thinks differently. This pretty much explains my point of view:
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06/13/2009 at 14:01
Sebastian Schack
Every OS has it flaws. Okay. Hower, not every OS carries those flaws along for years and years. For example, as Serlet pointed out quite correctly, this monster they call registry and disk fragmentation – something completely unheard of in the worlds of Unix/Linux and OS X.
I’ve tested Windows 7 for a couple of weeks myself. It is BY FAR the best windows I have ever seen (and I’ve seen them all). It’s fast, it’s snappy and way more user friendly than Vista. However, Windows 7 takes Windows to a level, which OS X had already reached with OS X Tiger (10.4) in fall 2006. And am talking only about the underlying basics.
So right now, Apple is already more than 3 years ahead of what will come with Windows 7. If Snow Leopard keeps up to the promises made by Apple so far, this release will bring them three to five years further ahead.
Apple’s big advantages in development are: they love their products, they know their customers and they know which hardware they have to code for. Therefor, to me, it’s no surprise that Apple kicks Microsoft’s ass when it comes to stability, UI, speed, ease of use, etc. – but it’s no reason for a company like Microsoft to sell the alpha testing release of Windows7 (namely: Windows Vista) for hundreds of Dollars – with the only real innovation being: more color.
Of course Serlet’s comparisons are sometimes… well, they’re not wrong but also aren’t exactly correct. On the other hand, Microsoft cannot complain about that – think about the “Laptop Hunter” ads. Comparing the white MacBook’s tech specs to those of a $1800 HP Laptop and than comparing the MacBook Pro 17″s price tag to that of the same HP Laptop?!
06/13/2009 at 14:08
Sebastian Schack
Oh, and besides that, you will never ever get a free upgrade from Microsoft. There’s not a snowflake’s chance in hell for that to happen!
06/13/2009 at 17:14
André
Well it appears that only people who purchase a pc soon without Windows 7, as it isn’t finished yet, will get that free upgrade. So basically you’re right….
06/13/2009 at 17:14
Sebastian Schack
Same with Apple: buy a Mac now, get Snow Leopard in 09/09 for $10 (handling/shipping costs).
06/13/2009 at 14:19
Sebastian Schack
Another addition to that frog video you posted.
Yes, Snow Leopard is only a refinemetn of Leopard. As is Windows 7 to Windows Vista.
But here’s the difference: Leopard already rocked! And Snow Leopard is getting rid of some old legacy (support for PowerPC etc.) and refining a bit here and there in order to make OS X “future compatible”.
Vista, on the other hand, is pure crap compared to both, Windows XP and Windows 7. So the Windows-refining takes place to make Windows useable again. The OS X-refining takes place to make a great product even better.
So, yes, both is refinement – but on totally different levels. OS X already is a crowd pleaser whereas Windows Vista sucks. The latter being obviously also Microsoft’s own opinion. Why else would they keep Windows XP alive and start shipping Windows 7 so fast?