Lord of the Web

The internet and the blogging community has gone crazy with the supposed leak of Windows 7 beta on BitTorrent sites. There has been a mad dash to download the version and post “exclusive” screenshots of the new OS from Microsoft.

What makes me wonder is the timing of the “leak”. The alleged leak has occured just after Christmas, at a time when technology news are almost non-existant. The week after Christmas is a lull period when even a small bit of news can create a lot of buzz. Leaked version of a new OS from Microsoft is no small news and so one can imagine the effect it would have, which is exactly what’s happening. The “leak” appears like a god-send to the marketing team of the Redmond giant and this timing goes on to show that the leak might have been intentional, after all.

Lack of some strong reactions from Microsoft also goes on to show that the leak might have been planned. Many legitimate leaks have occured in the past, but Microsoft’s Windows is now under the direct management of Steven Sinofsky, who earlier had similar role for Office 07. Did you get any Office 07 leak? No! Sinofsky runs a fortress and nothing can be expected to leak through its walls, unless the gates have been opened to let the “leak” occur. Accidental or intentional, the leak has resulted in great marketing and Microsoft will look on to make good use of it.