The day of reckoning is almost upon us. Microsoft’s newest operating system finally comes to the market. And, upon Windows 7’s shoulders rest not only the fate of the software giant’s OS business. The near and medium-term fortunes of almost the whole of the IT world – the retail channel, and the developers that thrive and flourish with the Windows ecosystem – would, to a great extent, depend on how Windows 7 fares.

And looking at it, one cannot be blamed for saying that almost all companies that have anything to do with computers need as much as Microsoft does Windows 7 to succeed. For a successful Windows 7 would mean end users – both consumers and businesses – buying new computers. And the more consumers would buy computers, the more microprocessors are sold by Intel, AMD, and company.

The Mac might be the coolest OS and computer, and the Linux-based computers might be of a better breed, but as good as their proponents claim them to be, they can never revitalize a moribund market. By themselves, the Mac and Linux machines can never save the IT world. At least, not in the way that a successful Windows can.

Vista-Proof

The Windows ecosystem might not be the best world there is. Microsoft’s operating system might be as faulty as its detractors claim it to be. But for an overwhelming majority of computer users, Windows is good and capable enough. It does what they need it to do where and when they need it to. Well, almost always.

Reports about Windows’ demise proved to be premature. And if Vista, the worst incarnation of the operating system, could never convince Windows users to jump ship and fly to the other side of the OS fence. What can the Mac and Linux fanboys do to evangelize the Windows users – the IT denizens they consider heathens, or the horde of ignorant and uncool IT users?

Windows 7

Of course, it can never be like the good old days for Microsoft. Even if Windows 7 would sell like Windows 95 did way back then, the software giant can never just bundle anything else as indiscriminately as it used to. Consumer protection watchdogs from both sides of the Atlantic will be there yapping at its feet with even the slightest indication that Ballmer and company plan to compete “unfairly.”

Not that Microsoft needs to this time. Instead, the company plans to invite Windows 7 users to go online, specifically, Microsoft’s part of the online world, to upgrade and enhance their operating systems. These tools, such as image-handling and video-editing features, can be downloaded from Microsoft’s Web sites.

There is nothing illegal, here. Microsoft’s rivals, such as Google, do it. And consumers are not coerced or tricked into downloading anything. But the beauty of it, at least from Microsoft’s point of view, is that consumers would be configuring their computers the way that the software company wants them to. Windows 7 may or may not be as good as its vendor and proponents tout it to be. And even if it finds a more or less universal market acceptance, its critics would say that with Vista preceding it, Windows 7 or anything for that matter, would be an improvement.

Be that as it may, the market needs Windows 7 to succeed. Another Vista can do untold damage to the IT industry. There is quite a lot depending on the operating system’s fate.