Microsoft Apes Apple With Windows 7 Hardware Push

While Microsoft continues to dwarf Apple in terms of the installed base of its Windows operating system, the Redmond company still seems to be learning  lessons from its Cupertino-based rival, Apple.

In particular Microsoft is promoting its own branded hardware as the best compliment to its newly launched Windows 7, in a strategy which appears to echo the tight integration between Apple’s software and equipment.

“Microsoft Hardware leads the industry in ergonomic engineering, industrial design and hardware/software compatibility, offering consumers an easy, convenient and enjoyable computing experience,” the company said in a statement. The strong affirmation for its own-branded hardware might surprise the numerous hardware partners which depend on Microsoft’s Windows and other software offerings.

Branded-hardware being pushed by Microsoft to coincide with Windows 7 is consists of peripherals rather than systems, and includes the LifeCam Cinema, Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 and Explorer Mini Mouse. For example, Microsoft claims its mouse and keyboard products support the Device Stage feature of Windows 7 which the company claims makes it easier to access some tasks such as changing settings for peripherals.

To help push its hardware, Microsoft has been giving users who lay on parties to celebrate the launch of the OS discounts on its hardware and has now opened up the deal to those consumers who aren’t move to host a celebration for the launch of the new software code. The vouchers can be downloaded here.

Microsoft claims its hardware group has a 26 year history – nearly as long as software business – but when put in the recent context of the planned opening of a series of retail stores, it appears that Microsoft which has seen its revenues squeezed of late is learning lessons from Apple which continues to grow financially.

Microsoft opened its first retail store in Scottsdale Arizona in the US to coincide with the launch of Windows 7. A second store is due to open shortly in Orange County, California.

Earlier this month Apple announced on 19 Oct fiscal fourth-quarter results that trumped Wall Street expectations, with revenue of $9.87 billion (£5.97bn) and a net quarterly profit of $1.67 billion ($1bn). Microsoft meanwhile Microsoft revenues for the same period were $12.92 billion (£7.78 billion) and represented a 14 percent decline year-over-year from 2008. Operating income, net income and diluted earnings per share for the quarter declined 25 percent, 18 percent and 17 percent, respectively, over the same quarter in 2008.

But according to analysts, Microsoft probably hit its financial bottom over the summer, according to analyst Katherine Egbert from research firm Jefferies & Co., and has a strong chance of rebounding as both the economy and the tech sector continue to dig themselves from a long-standing economic recession and should be boosted by the launch of Windows 7.