Windows 7 launch won't be 'extravagant'

New Zealanders will be first in the world to get their hands on Windows 7, but Microsoft appears unlikely to repeat the splash that heralded the arrival of Vista.

Windows 7 is Microsoft's next desktop operating system - the successor to Vista - and will go on sale worldwide on October 22. New Zealand's place on the international dateline puts it first in the queue.

Vista was launched amid much fanfare in 2007 when Microsoft converted the home of Khandallah businessman Shaan Stevens into a Vista showroom. Guests at the launch were served a champagne breakfast and influential bloggers received free notebook computers.

A Microsoft spokeswoman says it has no plans yet for the launch of Windows 7. "We will be doing something interesting and exciting. It's hard to say what direction we will go in right now, but it will be appropriate to the times and not anything terribly extravagant."

The company plans to offer an upgrade to customers who buy computers loaded with Vista before the launch of Windows 7, but has given no details.

Mr Stevens says he would be keen to be involved should Microsoft decide to emulate the launch of Vista, but the company is yet to come knocking.

He has downloaded a beta version of Windows 7 and says the software is a marked improvement on Vista, which was widely criticised for compatibility problems with third-party software and excessive hardware requirements.

"With Vista, there were issues around drivers - connecting USBs was a nightmare - but with Windows 7 it's a lot better."

Windows 7 also allows people to stream music and videos over the internet to other computers and portable devices.

Microsoft senior vice-president Bill Veghte said it was unlikely Windows 7 would prompt a big rise in PC sales, because of the "macroeconomic environment".