Microsoft Corp. has sold twice as many copies of Windows 7 in its first few weeks than any previous version of the operating system, Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said.

Mr. Ballmer, speaking Thursday at Microsoft's annual shareholder meeting, described the initial Windows 7 reception as "fantastic" but didn't provide a specific figure for sales since the Oct. 22 release. Since the software giant sold about 20 million copies of Windows Vista in its first month on the market that would put initial Windows 7 sales at roughly 40 million units.
[MSOFT]

A company spokeswoman said Mr. Ballmer was referring to both boxed copies of Windows 7 and copies it sells to PC makers for inclusion on their machines.

Microsoft and others in the PC industry are eager to see Windows 7 give a lift to hardware sales, which have suffered badly during the economic downturn. Windows is one of the biggest sources of Microsoft's profit, accounting for nearly half of the company's $20.4 billion in operating income during its last fiscal year.

The new software, which has received favorable reviews, also could give Microsoft a badly needed image boost in the wake of Windows Vista—a prior version of the operating system that suffered from technical snafus when it was launched several years ago.

The comments from Mr. Ballmer are the closest the company has come to quantifying sales of Windows 7 since the product went on sale Oct. 22.

Mr. Ballmer didn't give precise figures, or specify how much of Windows 7's sales came through sales of new PCs, which are typically the most common way people receive a new operating system.

During the meeting, Mr. Ballmer fielded questions from a number of investors who focused on the trouble Apple Inc. has been causing for Microsoft in different parts of the consumer market. A man who identified himself as a longtime investor expressed concern that Windows had lost ground to Apple's Macintosh among students, including the investor's own children.
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Mr. Ballmer said Microsoft does "quite well" among students but said the company can improve its standing in that market. "Windows 7 gives us a real opportunity to come back again at audiences that have been tougher for us," Mr. Ballmer said.

Apple's share of new PC shipments in the U.S. was 9.2% in the third quarter, up from 4.8% in the same period four years ago, according to research firm IDC.

World-wide, Macs represented 3.9% of new PC shipments in the third quarter compared with 2.4% four years ago, IDC said. Nearly all of the remaining PCs shipped came with a version of Windows.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704204304574545754132474232.html

Dual Core:

Windows 7 breaks sales records? how does this concern Nigeria? You buy am?

Ighedome:

What is all these Windows 7 story self? Many Nigerians are yet to fully grab the rudiments of Vista, you are talking about Windows 7. I beg, my Vista is just one year old and am not tired of it yet. 

puskin:

@poster
U buy Windows 7, 45k.
4rm where?

Computer Village. Whats it? Are you surprised?

Are you guys waiting for the cracked version?

mr.official:


Computer Village. Whats it? Are you surprised?

Are you guys waiting for the cracked version?

mr.official:

Yes! 45k Naira.

4llerbuntu:

and wat magic does it being legit do? u sleep berra shey. ts3w. anyway i dnt share your nitemares anymore so i probly dnt unnerstand. wen deres foc os fully functional around u telling me 2 spend a fortune 2 buy more wahala. pray tell me wat it is abt orig software? bsides in naija they cost a fortune. go to palms[color=][/color]

oyb:

weird. . .wanted to try out 64bit windows 7.

practically all warez links have diasppeared. even found tha mods of forums i frequent have been deleting windows 7 threads.

sees as if now that windows 7 is a winner, ms is wielding the big stick on its piracy

4llerbuntu:

Dts all u pple say, its finer! Meanwhile bill is gettin richer.

4llerbuntu:

and wat magic does it being legit do? u sleep berra shey. ts3w. anyway i dnt share your nitemares anymore so i probly dnt unnerstand. wen deres foc os fully functional around u telling me 2 spend a fortune 2 buy more wahala. pray tell me wat it is abt orig software? bsides in naija they cost a fortune. go to palms[color=][/color]

4llerbuntu:

Until d disaster called vista and d opening of my eyes. I truly dislike pple preening ova ms. Look if d opensource world can do stuff really good, then ms's refusal 2 so do inspite of d mega bucks available 2 dem is deliberate and unwarranted!

Iv no prob wit making money off me but give value! D best dt money can get! Considering i can get stuff beta dan wat ms gives me for free, am pissed!

D probs wit MS OS'ES are well-documented n hav bin around 4 yrs! A windows install performs worse d longer it on, a linux install improves!, a windows install WILL degrade your hard drive over time, a linux install wont even be fragmented!, a windows install increasingly requires more resources 2 run, a linux install and program with equivalent utility uses far less( d newest linux os will run comfortably on 512mb ram!), lets not start abt viruses, wateva u say, all d extra wares u need 2 keep your windows alive are crippling! U pple dont knw d half anyway cos of otigba 150 cd. After using both, am of d opinion dt linux equivs of progs do beta overall.

Now if unpaid geeks can make software dt has clear ability and workability, then hw can u tell me a big corporation like ms cant do beta? This is just a vicious circle scam, i sell u wat u will constantly need me for 2 use! All those anti trust suits are not jus bad belle naw!

Unlike d average maga, i need more than a few pretty themes n wall paper n graphics 2 catch me mugun.

4llerbuntu:

and wat magic does it being legit do?  u sleep berra shey. ts3w.  anyway i dnt share your nitemares anymore so i probly dnt unnerstand. wen deres foc os fully functional around u telling me 2 spend a fortune 2 buy more wahala.  pray tell me wat it is abt orig software?  bsides in naija they cost a fortune. go to palms[color=][/color]

4llerbuntu:

Until d disaster called vista and d opening of my eyes. I truly dislike pple preening ova ms. Look if d opensource world can do stuff really good, then ms's refusal 2 so do inspite of d mega bucks available 2 dem is deliberate and unwarranted!

Iv no prob wit making money off me but give value! D best dt money can get! Considering i can get stuff beta dan wat ms gives me for free, am pissed!

D probs wit MS OS'ES are well-documented n hav bin around 4 yrs! A windows install performs worse d longer it on, a linux install improves!, a windows install WILL degrade your hard drive over time, a linux install wont even be fragmented!, a windows install increasingly requires more resources 2 run, a linux install and program with equivalent utility uses far less( d newest linux os will run comfortably on 512mb ram!), lets not start abt viruses, wateva u say, all d extra wares u need 2 keep your windows alive are crippling! U pple dont knw d half anyway cos of otigba 150 cd. After using both, am of d opinion dt linux equivs of progs do beta overall.

Now if unpaid geeks can make software dt has clear ability and workability, then hw can u tell me a big corporation like ms cant do beta? This is just a vicious circle scam, i sell u wat u will constantly need me for 2 use! All those anti trust suits are not jus bad belle naw!

Unlike d average maga, i need more than a few pretty themes n wall paper n graphics 2 catch me mugun.

flyuche:

@tex. the linux world is a universe. linux works! whatever works for you stick with it.