A recent poll conducted by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) shows that public satisfaction with Microsoft software continues to rise, large due to the success of the Windows 7 operating system (OS).

Microsoft scored a record high 79 points in the latest poll figures, marking the culmination of steady increases in each of the last three years.

The three-point increase (representing a 7 per cent gain) helped Microsoft attain its highest level since ACSI first began asking Americans for feedback concerning the quality of their computer software nearly five years ago. (Source: idg.no)

Windows Vista Curse Finally Comes to an End

In 2008, Microsoft's satisfaction figures dipped below 70 for the first time.

At that time, Windows Vista was in its second year of release and was highly criticized for its major incompatibilities with hardware and software. The current rise in Microsoft's satisfaction rates suggests the end of the much-maligned Windows Vista era, including many missed opportunities for Microsoft.

"Microsoft's continued improvement over the last three years suggests that we're out of the Vista phenomenon" proclaimed ACSI director David VanAmburg in a recent statement.

The fact that Microsoft has been the recipient of such positive feedback should come as little surprise, however, since Windows 7 was released back in October 2009 to instant fanfare and positive reviews. Microsoft recently announced that 350 million licenses for Windows 7 have been sold since its initial release.

Improvement Promising, but Average

Still, VanAmburg warned against reading too much into Microsoft's record score.

"While this is good news for Microsoft, its rate of improvement is about the same as the industry as a whole. Microsoft is just keeping pace with a growing sense of (industry-wide) satisfaction in software." (Source: computerworld.com)

Whether or not Microsoft will surpass the current record high software satisfaction rate is certainly open for debate.