HP Brings Back Windows 7 "By Popular Demand"

The Hewlett-Packard HPQ website said it all. “Back by popular demand. Customize a new HP PC with Windows 7 …”

Windows 7, of course, is not Microsoft MSFT’s newest version of its operating system. That would be Windows 8. Unfortunately for Microsoft, Windows 8 is about as popular with PC users as Windows Vista was, which is to say – not popular at all.

In fact, according to PC World, many lay the blame for a declining PC market squarely on the shoulders of Windows 8. As a result, HP just came out with its new campaign, via an email blitz over the weekend, to bring back Windows 7, as the email said, “by popular demand.”

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The deal included $150 off the selling price of a new computer loaded with Microsoft’s older, but more widely accepted OS. It is something the world’s second largest computer maker hoped would reverse seven consecutive quarters of lagging PC sales.

Microsoft has not yet announced when it would stop allowing computer makers to pre-install Windows 7 and with campaigns like that of HP, PC World doubted any announcement would come soon.

What is known is that Microsoft would no longer support Windows XP as of April 8. This could lead to many customers wanting to upgrade – not to Windows 8, but to Windows 7.

HP might solve some of its PC sales concerns by loading up on and promoting machines that feature Windows 7. The long-range solution for HP and other PC makers, as well as software giant, Microsoft, is Windows 9.

The Verge said Windows 9, expected to be available in the spring of 2015, would likely represent a move away from Windows 8. The company was expected to discuss its vision Windows 9 at the company’s Build 2014 developer conference in April.

Although none of the company’s plans for Windows 9 has been made public, The Verge said the new OS might separate the Windows 8-style apps, allowing them to run in stand-alone windows on a traditional-style desktop.

One major expected change would be the return of a Start menu, although that could also come as part of an update to Windows 8.1 yet this year.

Meanwhile, HP has no plans to “wait it out” until 2015 and the potential premiere of Windows 9. Instead, like many PC users, HP will apparently be content to promote four-year-old Windows 7 as a solution to slow PC sales.

At the time of this writing, Jim Probasco had no position in any mentioned securities.