Windows 7 Logo and its significance

The Compatible with Windows 7 Logo program is in place to help customers identify devices that are designed and tested to be compatible with the Windows 7 Operating System. Software and devices that display the logo have passed Microsoft-designed tests for compatibility and reliability with the Windows 7 Operating System. The new Windows 7 logo requirements are based on extensive analysis of error reports, input from experts, and feedback from Microsoft’s numerous Software and Hardware partners regarding the challenges they and their customers encounter.

The goal of the Compatible with Windows 7 Logo program is to make sure the customer has the best experience possible with the Windows 7 Operating System. Features of the Compatible with Windows 7 Logo program include:

• Focus on robust testing requirements to ensure optimal Windows 7 operating system experience. Products that receive the Logo are checked for common issues to minimize the number of crashes, hangs, and reboots experienced by the user.
• To be granted the Logo, products are tested to work with all versions of Windows 7 Operating System, including 64-bit. This is an important change since 64 bit systems are becoming more mainstream.
• The testing process has been changed to reduce the amount of paperwork required and making it less expensive for manufacturing partners to achieve the logo - Microsoft reached out to partners earlier giving them more time to test their products for use with Windows 7 Operating System.
• As participants in the Windows 7 Logo Program, manufacturing partners can use the Compatible with Windows 7 logo artwork, messaging guidelines, and marketing campaign assets in association with devices that have met the program requirements. Using these assets helps these manufacturing partners extend their marketing by taking advantage of Microsoft's continued investment in promoting Compatible with Windows 7 devices to consumers, businesses, and retail channel partners.

These changes have already been met with positive results. For the last several months Microsoft has been running a program for manufacturing partners called Ready.Set.7 designed to help those partners achieve the logo for their software and devices. As a result, there are already over 6000 products that have received the logo by the end of 2009 and many more are added every day.

All of this is being done in an effort to assure the customer that when they buy a Software or Hardware product to enhance or work with their Computer, that product will work with the Windows 7 Operating System. For example, connected devices will automatically be detected and specific features of those devices presented through the new Windows 7 feature called Device Stage, which can then be used to allow a connected Digital Camera or MP3 player to automatically transfer content.