Business focus
By now you've probably had enough Windows 7 coverage to last you a lifetime, with HEXUS.net's excellent seven part special surely the definitive guide to the new OS.
But indulge us once more, because a less publicised aspect of the Windows 7 launch is its importance to Microsoft in trying to get the business market to put its hand in its pocket for a new OS for the first time in many years.
You see, most business customers could see no reason to upgrade from XP to Vista, so Microsoft is basically saying "fair enough, but Windows 7 is worth upgrading to". Accordingly, Microsoft set aside an entire area of its Windows 7 launch event just to extolling the virtues of the new OS for small businesses.
As if that wasn't proof enough, the standard of buffet food in the SMB zone was a definite step up on the rest of the event, with the chorizo and grilled goat's cheese among the highlights. It must be noted, however, that even Microsoft is not immune to the effects of the global recession. An ice bucket promised Veuve Clicquot champagne, but imagine our horror when it turned out to contain mere Prosecco.
Undaunted by this set-back, we still managed to get Robert Epstein, Microsoft's head of small business sales and marketing in the UK, to tell us why businesses should consider upgrading if they haven't already. We also spoke to a Microsoft customer about his experiences and you can watch both TV interviews below.
