Should Microsoft Push Windows 7 in 2010?

I have just written an article on whether Microsoft should leave Windows Vista in the dust or not. The key point is that Windows Vista is picking up steam right now while Windows XP’s adoption is falling behind.

It could be noted that Windows 7 was pushed much earlier because users wouldn’t want to move out of Windows XP and Microsoft’s million dollar marketing campaign could not change the negative image of the operating system.

Releasing a new operating system under the name of Windows 7 was the best option available. Now that Windows Vista is getting traction, should Microsoft wait for another year before Windows 7 is released? Microsoft’s initial announcement had the next operating system to be released with three years starting January of 2007, obviously Microsoft is way ahead of the schedule for Windows 7.

It may be too late to consider bolting out on Windows 7 but if you look at the improvements of this operating system, most of them are features that Windows Vista should have had. In another perspective, Windows 7 looks like an SP3 Windows Vista. Microsoft has already launched Windows Azure as their operating system in the cloud and Windows 7 is no where near tight integration to Windows Azure which means Microsoft might be looking into releasing another operating system that is best suited to interact with Azure in the next two years. Most consumers would not welcome another expense like this and if Windows 7 doesn’t sell like pancakes, two massive operating system fallouts could see a lot of users shifting to another operating system, most likely not Microsoft.

I think Microsoft should wait for another year before they release a major operating system, something that is tied to their Azure OS. Their current Windows 7 should just be add-on to Windows Vista. I know Microsoft wouldn’t like that idea, but consumers would praise the software giant had they thought that way.

What do you think? Are you opening your wallet for Windows 7 and another operating system in the next two years?

Image from Windows 7.