With the launch of Windows 7, Microsoft also rolled out a new world of software support. Ironically, installations of the software giant’s flagship operating system are going so smoothly that Microsoft may not be getting much response to its new service.
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Traditional live support via the phone, e-mail and chat are still available, but Microsoft has added new resources. For example, there is support through Twitter, a library of software fix its that can help consumers solve problems with a single click, and other diagnostic and repair tools available through Windows 7 itself.
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Windows XP had little built-in support, and Windows Vista included some diagnostics to assess network connectivity issues, said Lori Brownell, general manager of product quality and online support at Microsoft. But Windows 7 truly reflects broad customer feedback that has enabled us to build a comprehensive set of resources that solve customers’ most pressing problems and even keep them ahead of potential problems.
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Easy, Quick Windows Installs
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According to Roger Kay, principal analyst at Endpoint Technologies Associates, Windows 7 is the best OS that Microsoft has ever built. Because it’s a highly stable environment that delivers information faster, more securely, more flexibly, and in a better organized manner, he said, businesses can see tangible benefits and real ROI immediately. No need to wait for Service Pack 1 to reap the rewards, Kay said.
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As part of the run-up to the Windows 7 launch, Kay did a study for Microsoft that examined the experiences of early adopters in the small and midsize business community. Kay reported a great degree of unanimity in opinions about the new OS and future plans.
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Specifically, out of 16 companies interviewed, all but one said Windows 7 saved them time in three general categories: Faster install time, faster boot/shutdown/suspend/resume, and a hundred savings a day of a few…