Microsoft has gone for an ‘it does exactly what it says on the tin’ approach to branding its next operating system (OS), which will be known simply as Windows 7.
This represents the first time since Windows 3.1 that Microsoft has given a new OS a number.
Until now, it has either been the year the product was introduced such as Windows 98 or 2000, or a brand like XP or Vista.
The new OS is tipped to appear either late 2009 or early 2010.
Writing in a blog on the new OS, Microsoft corporate vice-president, Mike Nash, said that details on features of the new OS will be discussed at the forthcoming Professional Developers Conference.
“The decision to use the name Windows 7 is about simplicity. Over the years, we have taken different approaches to naming Windows. We’ve used version numbers like Windows 3.11, or dates like Windows 98, or ‘aspirational’ monikers like Windows XP or Windows Vista.
“And since we do not ship new versions of Windows every year, using a date did not make sense. Likewise, coming up with an all-new aspirational name does not do justice to what we are trying to achieve, which is to stay firmly rooted in our aspirations for Windows Vista, while evolving and refining the substantial investments in platform technology in Windows Vista into the next generation of Windows.
“Simply put, this is the seventh release of Windows, so therefore ‘Windows 7’ just makes sense,” Nash said.
By John Kennedy
Pictured: screenshot of Microsoft’s new operating systems, Windows 7
