Windows 7 trounces Vista launch sales

Microsoft’s newest operating system, Windows 7, has surpassed launch window sales of Vista by 234 per cent in the US, according to new research.

But analyst group NPD also revealed that Microsoft’s revenues from the W7 launch wasn’t close to equalling the success of its unit sales.

Early discounts and a lack of promotion for W7 Ultimate Edition meant that launch revenues were still up on Vista’s – by 82 per cent in fact – though ultimately far below what unit sales would suggest.

“Microsoft’s program of early low-cost pre-sales, high visibility marketing, and aggressive deals helped make the Windows 7 software launch successful,” said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD.

“In a slow environment for packaged software Windows 7 brought a large number of customers into the software aisles.”