7 Strangest Things Said About Windows 7

Amid the hubbub on Windows 7 launch day, a few bloggers offer especially zany takes

Judging from the record sales numbers and radiant reviews, Microsoft's Windows 7 launch on October 22 appears to have been a smashing success. The news is especially good for the world's largest software company because its previous operating system, Windows Vista, was widely reviled by critics and consumers in 2007. Yet amid the acclamation for the slick new operation system, a few surprising, even downright strange reactions have emerged:

• Apple Fanboys Love It  At the Apple Blog, Darrell Etherington makes the scandalous admission that he will be among the first in line to get Windows 7 for his iMac computer. What's more, he's betting a good portion of Apple fanboys will be joining him. Heresy? Not so much; he thinks it's more a reflection of how technologically open-minded Apple users are as a crowd: "As Mac users, we have a tendency to also be gadget addicts. I’ve found we’re more interested in all tech, not just our own, perhaps because we consider ourselves connoisseurs in the area thanks to our impeccable taste. For me, and for many others that I know, that interest translates into a pretty heady case of gadget-lust, one of the symptoms of which is early-adopterese. And also a willingness to acknowledge when a company besides our beloved Apple releases a smart, well-designed product."

• The Good, Old Days of '09 Along the same lines, Google Android OS supporter Rob Jackson also endorsed Windows 7 to his readers, knowing full well it would shock and appall them. But he defended his decision with a thoroughly backhanded compliment. Buy it for nostalgia, he said, "because when all is said and done, this may be the very last time you purchase a Microsoft operating system. Heck… it might be the last time you purchase ANY operating system because with the help of Google, we’re living in a free world. This time next year you’ll be shopping for your first Chrome OS Netbook/Laptop running Chrome browser with both Google Apps and Android Apps."

• Psychedelic 7 At TechBlog, Dwight Silverman eschews the traditional launch-day coverage, opting instead to concentrate on an overlooked feature of Windows: their funky built-in wallpaper options. He is drawn first to a surreal image of a man flying, calling it "hallucinogenically inspired," and adding "i'll have what whatever he's smoking', thanks!"

• Searching the 7 Continents Another Apple Blogger, Philip Elmer-DeWitt, takes an interesting approach to evaluating Windows 7's worldwide appeal. Using Google Insight's search, he compiles a list of the top 10 regions searching for Windows 7 (on a per capita basis) It's a surprising list, with Cuba at number 1, Sri Lanka at number 3, and Norway at number 10. Norway. Baffled, he offers readers the chance to weigh in: " At first I thought this was an early-morning effect, and that interest in Europe and the U.S. would grow as the day progressed. But I was wrong; that list reflects searches over the past 12 months. Any theories about what's going on?"

• Microsoft Bytes Back Many on the Internet were amused by the Windows 7/Burger King marketing tie-in that has Japanese locations hocking a 7-patty Whopper monstrosity on launch day and for the duration of the following week (get it, 7 days?). As blogger eDRoaCH tweeted: "Microsoft finally 1-ups the Big Mac"

• Energized Tech Blogger Sean Kearney was so moved by the new OS, he composed an ode to honor it:
  

I love thee for thy WinRE 
to save me in the day
I love thee for the for thy Windows Shake, 
tosseth my problems all away...
I love thee for thy security, protecting all that is mine
Keepeth out troublemaking, rotten little swine.

• Spoofing 7 And finally, spoofing the already highly-mocked Windows 7 "launch party" ads, the UK version of the popular comedy video site Funny or Die released it's own alternative guide to "Hosting Your Windows 7 Torrenting Party," which offers (faux) tips on how to illegally download the software without getting caught. Thanks to TechCrunch's Erick Schonfeld for bringing this item to our attention.

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