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Microsoft's latest operating system is expected to drive sales of notebooks and netbooks, but the impact on desktop sales remains unclear.
Windows 7, launched on 22 October, is touted as being a far more power-efficient system than its resource-hungry predecessor. It has features that include enabling computers, televisions, radios, digital picture frames and other “smart” devices to talk to each other.
As a result, Microsoft expects that many companies working on Windows XP and Windows Vista will take the upgrade path to Windows 7 within the next 12 to 18 months.
Mustek marketing manager André de Waal says the company expects an increase in hardware sales as end-users convert to Windows 7. The new system is expected to drive sales of hardware capable of operating its new features such as multi-touch and home networking, Mustek says.
However, “the current hardware can accommodate the software, so there is no requirement for different hardware”, he says. Despite this, Mustek is starting to see enquires increasing as consumers wake up to the potential of the new system.
The company assembles and distributes Mecer PCs, notebooks, servers and PC accessories.
Proline brand manager Francois Lottering says Windows 7 is much more efficient than its predecessor, and requires much less computing power. He says the company has seen an increase in demand for netbooks. “We saw a super demand on the netbook side.”
