Microsoft Offers Early Peek at Vista's Successor

Microsoft offered an early look today of its new operating system, designed to smooth out the kinks of the much-maligned Vista. The company gave programmers test software of Windows 7, which CEO Steve Ballmer is pushing to release next year, CNET reports. Those with an early look have generally praised the stability of the new system, designed to be faster, smarter, and less of a memory hog, and to have fewer annoying glitches such as dialog boxes with dire warnings.

The system will make it easier for computer users to connect to devices such as printers and cameras, and to manage music and photo libraries. Windows generates more than a quarter of Microsoft's profits, and the company is anxious to regain consumers' confidence. Sales of Windows for PCs declined last quarter because of Vista problems, Bloomberg notes.
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