Bekker's Blog

Blog archive

Microsoft Showcases OEM Windows 7 PCs in 'The Collection'

Microsoft's U.K. subsidiary is firing a shot across Apple's design bow with a showcase of attractive Windows 7 PCs called, somewhat presumptuously, "The Collection."

The 30 PCs in The Collection will be featured at retail stores across the United Kingdom.

In launching The Collection this week, Ashley Highfield, managing director of Microsoft U.K., was quoted in the Telegraph newspaper saying that it was a mark of the "end of the beige-box era of computing and the beginning of another where computers are appealing things to own and use."

The Collection consists of five categories of systems: Everyday, Mobile Companion, Professional, Entertainment and Gaming.

The two business-focused categories in the collection are Mobile Companion with seven PCs and Professional with four PCs.

The Mobile Companions are the Toshiba NB550D, Dell Inspiron Duo, ICONIA TAB W500, Asus EeePad EP 121, Acer Aspire 1830T, Asus U36JC and HP Pavilion dm1. The Professional PCs are the Samsung Series 9, Toshiba Portege R830, Sony SB Series and Dell Vostro V130.

In addition to a slick site design, Microsoft also comes right out and explains for each model "Why we love this PC." For example, of the Samsung Series 9, Microsoft writes: "Exquisite design, razor thin, stunning screen and powerful too. Prepare to impress."

Whether Microsoft replicates the approach in other subsidiaries, the U.K. Collection does provide a useful resource for Microsoft partners worldwide looking for a directory of the hottest Windows 7 PCs to recommend to clients. (Another useful resource is RCP's "12 Notable Windows 7 Notebooks.")

Posted by Scott Bekker on April 21, 2011


Featured

  • Closeup of the new Copilot keyboard key

    Microsoft Updates Copilot To Add Context-Sensitive Agents to Teams, SharePoint

    Microsoft has rolled out a new public preview for collaborative "always on" agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot, bringing enhanced, context-aware tools into Teams channels, meetings, SharePoint sites, Planner workstreams and Viva Engage communities.

  • Windows 365 Cloud Apps Now Available for Public Preview

    Microsoft announced this week that Windows 365 Cloud Apps are now available for public preview. This aims to allow IT administrators to stream individual Windows applications from the cloud, removing the need to assign Cloud PCs to every user.

  • Report: Security Initiatives Can't Keep Pace with Cloud, AI Boom

    The increasingly fast adoption of hybrid, multicloud, and AI systems is easily outgrowing existing security measures, according to a recent global survey by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) and exposure management firm Tenable.

  • World Map Image

    Microsoft Taps Nebius in $17B AI Infrastructure Deal To Alleviate Cloud Strain

    Microsoft has signed a five-year, $17.4 billion agreement with Amsterdam-based Nebius Group to expand its AI computing capabilities through third-party GPU infrastructure.