Windows 7 a “compellingly good product”, Microsoft

On Sep 15, Charles Songhurst spoke at the Jefferies Annual Technology Confernce. While he totally sidestepped a number of analyst questions, including ones on Office 2010 and Microsoft’s long-range view on server virtualization, he responded with unusual candor to many others. Here’s an excerpt: “When Windows is executing well, Microsoft is in good shape,” Songhurst said. He couldn’t have been more bullish about Windows 7’s prospects in his remarks. He called 7 a “compellingly good product” that has led to “renewed belief in innovation in the Windows franchise.” Songhurst added that people tend to underestimate the impacts, both good and bad, from a product release and characterized Vista as a “less good” Windows release.