PCGH has visited Microsoft in Unterschleißheim, Germany and asked Ben Basaric, Product Marketing Manager Windows, some questions about Windows 7. We translated the original german interview into English.
Ben Basaric, Product Marketing Manager Windows (picture: Microsoft)
The User Account Control (UAC) in Windows 7 will be less obtrusive than the one in Vista? Is security of Windows 7 weakened because of this?
Ben Basaric: No, security is, like in Windows Vista, a top priority.
PCGH: Windows 7 will be easier to handle; can you give us some details on that?
Ben Basaric: There will be several improvements that will make working easier. The taskbar for example will have its central function, which is to open programs and manage documents, extended even further. Running programs or documents can be faster and easier indentified respectively opened. The program windows adjust themselves automatically etc. In Windows 7 there will be a consistent enhancement of the so called "Usability” of Windows Vista.
PCGH: Why will there be a 32 Bit version of Windows 7?
Ben Basaric: All over the world about 1.1 billion users use Windows Client. The majority of those users are still working with 32 Bit systems. Microsoft tries to offer the best version for every user. Therefore we will offer both versions of Windows 7 again - 32 and 64 Bit. But the future clearly belongs to 64 Bit. We do not have a definite date yet, when there will be a 64 Bit version only.
PCGH: Did the announcement of Windows 7 for early 2010 have a negative effect on the sales of Windows Vista?
Ben Basaric: The announcement of a new product always affects the current product array. Windows 7 will be introduced to the markets three years after Windows Vista - accordingly in early 2010. Someone who needs a new system will not wait for Windows 7. The question about Windows 7 or Windows Vista is not essential. If a new acquisition is evaluated today, the best solution is to equip the devices with Windows Vista, because any hardware or software running with Windows Vista will run with Windows 7, too. So migration to the new operating system won't be a problem once Windows 7 is released.
PCGH talking with Ben Basaric, Product Marketing Manager Windows, and Irene Nadler, Communications Manager Consumer. (picture: PCGH)
Will Windows 7 be delivered with DirectX 11?
Ben Basaric: That is to be determined yet. I could speculate, but that wouldn't help you. But I can give a tendency: unlikely.
PCGH: Will Vista drivers work on Windows 7?
Ben Basaric: Our aim is to make any program and driver that worked on Vista compatible to Windows 7. Therefore I can answer this question with Yes. There will always be the one or the other exception, but because of this we had switched the driver model with Vista.
PCGH: When will the first public beta of windows 7 be released?
Ben Basaric: Probably in early 2009.
PCGH: Will there be a performance index in Windows 7?
Ben Basaric: Yes, there will be one. Apropos performance: The performance of Windows 7 is impressive.
PCGH: Which editions of Windows 7 will be available?
Ben Basaric: That hasn't been fully decided yet. What we are doing at the moment, is checking the necessity of different versions, in order to possibly cut or adjust versions that are not "up-to-date”. At the moment there will be some changes.
PCGH: Mr. Basaric, thank you for this interview.
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