I was speaking to a customer the other day about Windows 7, and it really got me thinking about how the Windows platform has evolved. 

Back in the day, the operating system used to be all about doing other ‘stuff’, running applications, accessing websites and so forth.  It was almost ‘transparent’ to the user, and this was certainly the perception of customers and users.  It was a springboard so that we could do all the other things we needed from a PC, and everything on the OS was there to support this notion.

Even as the OS evolved from 1, 2, 3.1, 95 and the like, the advancements and evolution were there to make the experience of everything running on the PC more seamless, secure, stable and rich.

 

Then we take today, with the new generations of Operating System, like Vista, and soon with Windows 7.  Yes they have evolved to the point where they are far more secure, stable and rich then they have ever been. 

However, the OS isn’t just about enabling you to do ‘other stuff’ any more.  Now it really is a platform of capability.  Take some of the new features in 7 for example, a lot of which I've already blogged about, like Direct Access, AppLocker and BitLocker.  Whilst these aren’t applications as such, it really shows how the OS has become a solution platform in itself, adding distinct and tangible value before we even start thinking about everything else we can add (install) to do the other things we need from our PC.

From a personal point of view, I’ve certainly seen and felt the benefits of the new generation.  I feel more productive with Direct Access for example, knowing I can truly work from anywhere, with access to all of the resources I need, without having to worry about dodgy VPN connections and the like.

It’s an exciting time, bring on the release of 7!