Is Windows 7 merely a cleverly disguised update to Windows Vista, or is it a brand new Operating System?

The skeptic in me would label Windows 7 as simply being a Major Update to Windows Vista. Of course Microsoft would not want to call it “Windows Vista Update 2“, as Windows Vista really doesn’t have a good name in the marketplace. So Windows 7 sounds
better and Microsoft can charge for the update instead of releasing it for free.

A number of Tech folk who have spent months with Windows 7 would not agree. Ed Bott’s Microsoft Report on ZDNet Blogs “Windows 7 first look: More than just “Vista, fixed“, says “if you assume that Windows 7 is simply “Vista, fixed,” you’ll miss many small but meaningful changes and several large ones that give Windows 7 its own identity.”

CNET’s Review of Windows 7 says:
“Although the look of Windows 7 may seem to be nothing more than some polish applied liberally to the Vista Aero theme, make no mistake: This is a full replacement operating
system, and more than just “Vista done right.””

The “Bottom Line” of CNET’s review has this interesting statement:
“How much damage Vista did and whether Windows 7 is enough for people to finally abandon Windows XP are questions that nobody has the answers to right now.“