Windows 7 borrows from OS X, avoids Vista...

When it comes to Windows 7, Microsoft hasn't just learned from the mistakes of Windows Vista. It has picked-up a thing or two from Apple's OS X, judging by first impressions.

The executive leading Windows 7 said Tuesday that Microsoft realized it shouldn't forge ahead on Windows 7 and deliver an operating system unsupported by partners' hardware or software.

Also, Microsoft has heard that Windows Vista was a resource hog. The company is scaling down the code base and tickling up performance to run on netbooks and existing PCs - so you need to buy a replacement machine.

Steven Sinofsky, senior vice president for the Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group, promised we'd start to see this with the first Windows 7 beta "early next year." More...

See also:

1. Is the Windows era coming to an end as Microsoft prepares for Midori?
2. Windows woes: How to recover deleted files with free software...
3. Windows 7 Multi-Touch functions revealed...