Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 7 hit store shelves Thursday in Japan as part of a global launch for the wider public, promising to deliver a faster and lighter operating system that may help boost sales of personal computers ahead of the yearend shopping season.
The U.S. software giant began selling Windows 7 to large businesses with volume licensing deals last month, and demand has so far been strong following a sour response to its predecessor, Vista.
Yasuyuki Higuchi, president of Microsoft's Japan unit, said preorders for Windows 7 have already topped Vista sales in the first three months following its 2007 debut.