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Windows 7 outperforms previous versions simply by being smarter

The critical reception for Microsoft's new Windows 7 operating system has been generally positive, but tempered by a sense of caution. And the experts disagree on the reasons why Windows 7 is better than previous iterations.

Randall Kennedy writes in a guest column at InfoWorld that scalability is the real strength of Windows 7, not the more frequently cited fixes of glaring weaknesses present in Windows Vista. Kennedy argues that Windows XP - which is still in widespread use - is simply not equipped to fully take advantage of dual- and quad-core systems, which are rapidly becoming the norm.

Kennedy cites a multiprocess workflow test as showing that Windows 7 "outpaced Windows XP by 250 percent." He further asserts that many of the other ostensible reasons why Windows 7 is an improvement - namely, a smaller system footprint or less intrusive User Account Control - are more or less cosmetic changes, and don't have any real bearing on the popularity of the newer version.

Windows 7 was released late last month, and the company says that it is pleased by the progress it has made in the market.