As Windows 7 goes on sale today, Microsoft is claims it ushers in a new era of reliability and productivity for computer. I've been using it for a couple of months in various forms (Microsoft ran a unique open test programme, allowing hundreds of thousands of people to trial early versions), and the news is good - very good in fact.

The first emotion virtually everyone who regularly uses a PC will feel when loading Windows 7 is, without doubt, one of relief. Finally, it seems Microsoft has managed to make a good looking, easy to use operating system that is, unlike its predecessor, fast and responsive.

Microsoft’s Windows, despite being the most widely used piece of computer software ever made, has become a byword for crashing and slowing to a halt at every opportunity. While Windows 7 isn’t perfect, it’s a massive step in the right direction. It’s very fast and responsive, even on the cheapest laptop, and the on screen effects are incredibly well thought out.

As a user of both Mac and PCs, there are obvious comparisons to be drawn - Microsoft really does seem to have done its best to take the best bits from the brilliant Mac OS. And it works - Windows 7 is such a massive improvement over its predecessor it’s hard to find fault.

The biggest question is why on earth it has taken Microsoft so long to produce what is a good looking, easy to use and most of all reliable operating system.