Windows share drops in Oct despite Win 7

Electronista is reporting that Windows is losing ground to other operating systems, especially Apple's OS X.  They're suggesting that some of this loss may be due to Microsoft not providing Win XP users with an upgrade path, leaving them with the clean install option only, and therefore the opportuinty to start fresh with OS X, or Linux.

Most early adopters appear pleased with Microsoft's new OS, but some are griping about installation bugs.

By Paul McDougall
October 26, 2009 02:55 PM

Numerous would-be Windows 7 users are having difficulty installing or upgrading to Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT)'s newest operating system, user reports on a support forum indicated. Other Internet sites, however, showed that most users are happy with the software.

Some Windows 7 users complain 'I am stuck in limbo' when upgrading to the new OS.

Gregg Keizer
Oct 26, 2009 4:17 am

Some users trying to upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7 have seen their PCs crippled by an endless series of reboots, according to reports on Microsoft's support forum.

A Microsoft engineer writing on the same forum said the company was investigating users' problems, but downplayed them as "isolated issues."

Downloadable versions targetted at netbooks

For those wanting to install Windows 7 on a computer which has no CD/DVD drive, Microsoft has introduced Windows 7 for Netbooks, which can be downloaded only from their online store.

From ZDNet UK:

Enterprise IT managers, frustrated for the last three years by Windows Vista, have recently begun to move Linux from its traditional home in the datacentre out to user desktops. However, it's still very much a minority option and Linux's progress could be halted in its tracks by the release of Windows 7, which is widely seen as the logical upgrade for those still running XP.