Microsoft’s 2009 was largely dominated by the ramp-up to the release of Windows 7, its desktop operating system and its biggest launch of the year. In this first part of a three-part series, eWEEK traces Windows 7 from the announcement of the beta release at CES 2009 to its Oct. 22 launch and aftermath. With a lot riding on the operating system’s acceptance by both consumers and the enterprise, Microsoft engaged in an aggressive marketing and outreach campaign that seemed to pay off with rapid early sales and adoption, although the ultimate success of Windows 7 is indeterminate until 2010 and beyond.
– Microsoft’s
2009 was a pivotal year for the company, to say the least.
The economic recession that gripped much of the tech industry did not spare Redmond,
which was forced to report a 17 percent decline in year-over-year revenue for
the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. Earnings came in at $13.10…