All Hail Windows 7!

August 3, 2009

We regularly use Microsoft products here at thriveOn, however we certainly don’t consider ourselves diehard Microsoft fan boys. That being said we have high hopes for the arrival of Microsoft’s latest operating system Windows 7, according to this article on TechCrunch, Windows 7 has hit the released-to manufacturing stage.

Why are our hopes sky-high for Microsoft’s latest product? It’s certainly not for the multitude of reasons Microsoft might hope, rather we are eagerly anticipating the end of an era, one that Microsoft likely secretly hopes to soon forget as well, the name of that era is “Internet Explorer 6”.

Internet Explorer 6, or IE6, was first introduced to the world with the dawning of Windows XP, Microsoft’s longest standing successful operating system. And while Windows XP provided the stable and reliable user experience many were seeking it became a dark horse allowing IE6 to ride the coat-tails of its success long after it should have been vanquished.

Unless you have firsthand experience as a web-developer who is forced to provide compatibility for IE6 it may be difficult to fully understand the distain that is unanimously shared around the world among the fellowship of web-developers. Suffice it to say countless quantities of labor, patience, sleep and hair have been lost on the villain that is IE6.

Perhaps we should be thankful, as massive browser revolutions (i.e. FireFox, Opera, Chrome) have formed to reign in the relentless abuse and lawlessness of IE6. After all, every good story needs a villain. But despite the innovations we’ve achieved IE6 has managed to long overstay its welcome, surviving onslaught after onslaught like a persistent mold that has permeated every sustainable environment within reach. But every good story also needs an ending, one where its villain faces its doom. Enter Windows 7, our beacon of hope, we pray that it would surpass Windows XP and triumphantly slay the beast once for all.

All Hail Windows 7!