Viddler

As we saw on Wednesday Microsoft has certainly ramped up its marketing in preperation for the expected release of Windows 7 in “the holiday season of 2009″. As you may remember, Windows Vista was scheduled for release in the holiday season of 2006 but was delayed and eventually released globally on January 30th, 2007. This isn’t a post about nit-picking about Microsoft’s operating systems though; it’s about their outreach.

Microsoft hasn’t just been giving money to ‘people’ for laptops that suit them. They’ve been listening what you have been saying and actually hearing it, taking it in, and acting on it.

Talking About Windows (subscribe) launched less than a month ago and is specifically designed for IT Professionals. The community website offers a candid look at the philosophies in making Windows 7 and the engineers behind it, as well as a selection of real IT Professionals talking about their experiences with it.

A fun little marketing tool for the website is a series of videos featuring two 10-year-old boys whom are passionate IT Professionals and administrators for their elementary school computer lab.

Behold Sam and Trevor.

While Sam and Trev’ may be fictional characters I have no doubt in my mind that kids as geeky as them exist. This means you adult IT Pros need to keep on your feet before some young whipper snapper helps out someone with Windows blues. Get it? Blues… BSoD.

Moreover, Microsoft is truly thinking about community this time around. I love that, and the fact that my favorite number is 7 makes me interested in trying out their new operating system when it debuts.

What do you think about the Windows 7 community efforts? Do you think they’re going to solve your issue(s) with previous versions of Windows? If you’d like them to address something, make sure you contact them. Remember, communication is key, and if you don’t tell them they might never know.

Just like I might never know that you really really really really enjoy a video unless you send me a message and tell me.