Taking obvious hints from the Zune HD’s interface, Microsoft have managed to create a clean and modern OS. If it is based on previous incarnations they’ve hidden it well enough that no one would care.
Definitely aimed more at the casual user than the older versions, great emphasis on integration with social networks and Xbox Live is evident. This as well as a media player based on the Zune and lots of swanky graphics certainly markets it as a device for pleasure as well as productivity. Assuming they manage to keep the old functionality they’ve done well to encompass two very different markets.
