Microsoft's latest operating system is expected to drive sales of notebooks and netbooks, but the impact on desktop sales remains unclear.
Windows 7, launched on 22 October, is touted as being a far more power-efficient system than its resource-hungry predecessor. It has features that include enabling computers, televisions, radios, digital picture frames and other “smart” devices to talk to each other.
As a result, Microsoft expects that many companies working on Windows XP and Windows Vista will take the upgrade path to Windows 7 within the next 12 to 18 months.
Mustek marketing manager Andr'e de Waal says the company expects an increase in hardware sales as end-users convert to Windows 7. The new system is expected to drive sales of hardware capable of operating its new features such as multi-touch and home networking, Mustek says.
However, “the current hardware can accommodate the software, so there is no requirement for different hardware”, he says. Despite this, Mustek is starting to see enquires increasing as consumers wake up to the potential of the new system.
The company assembles and distributes Mecer PCs, notebooks, servers and PC accessories.
Concerns
Proline brand manager Francois Lottering says Windows 7 is much more efficient than its predecessor, and requires much less computing power. He says the company has seen an increase in demand for netbooks. “We saw a super demand on the netbook side.”
Lottering says Windows 7 went into the channel bundled with PCs two weeks before its official release on 22 October. In the second week, the company saw an “exponential” increase in demand for products.
However, whether this trend will continue will still have to be seen, he adds. Proline, part of the Pinnacle Technology group, is focused on the desktop market, which makes up 90% of its sales.
Sebastian Isaac, Rectron marketing director, says he expects Windows 7 to drive sales of notebooks. Isaac says sales of the portable device have been on the increase for the past two years, a trend that is expected to continue.
He explains that Windows 7 is a more efficient operating system, and is less of a drain on battery life than Vista. While it is too early to say what sales in the future will be, Isaac says the uptake, so far, has been better than Vista.
“The full potential of Windows 7 has not yet been understood by the consumer,” he adds.
Rectron distributes products such as Asus, Creative, Intel, LG, Sony and Samsung.
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