Unless you've been living under a rock somewhere, you'll probably already be well aware that Microsoft's latest Windows operating system launches tomorrow. If you are like me, you will have already been running the release candidate version of Windows 7 since it was made available to the general public in May (you may have also been keeping up with development through the many leaked incremental builds). The fact that the development process has been so public has given Microsoft ample chance to iron out any problem for the final build that will appear in shops tomorrow, so expectations are high.
Media reaction to the new OS has been largely positive so far, and MS has tried hard to avoid repeating the mistakes it made with Vista. While Vista wasn't exactly a bad OS (and has matured into a perfectly serviceable one), it didn't really get over the bad press of it's initial problems and annoyances. Add in the confusing way Vista was marketed, with it ending up installed on machines that didn't give it room to breathe, and you end up with what has been widely perceived as a flop. Windows 7 remedies most of the problems associated with Vista, though it does still come in a potentially confusing number of versions. That hasn't stopped pre-order numbers for the Windows 7 being strong though, with it breaking the record for the most ever on Amazon. Businesses are also reportedly more positive, though they will likely wait a while before upgrading their systems.
It therefore comes as no surprise that our weekly poll here at OCC also focuses on the Windows 7 release, asking our members whether they plan to upgrade to the new OS on their primary system. Please feel free to drop in and vote, or share your opinion.