Microsoft is a popular bad guy in the technology world. Nearly everyone has used one of its products, and many have stories of bad experiences with annoying features, frustrating applications, or the infamous blue screen of death.

However, with Thursday’s release of the Windows 7 operating system, Seattleites have reason to cheer for one of its premier employers. Although Microsoft does have its problems, it’s one of the biggest parts of Seattle’s economy and has developed a strong connection with many of Puget Sound’s residents.

The recession has hit many companies hard, and Microsoft is no exception. The technology giant across the lake has shed approximately 3,000 jobs since January, with about 500 of those cuts occurring in the Puget Sound region. For the first time in 23 years, Microsoft has lost revenue, dropping 3 percent since June 2008. This is bad news, not only for Microsoft, but also for the rest of the region.

Employing roughly 41,000 people in the Seattle metro region, Microsoft is the area’s third-largest private-sector employer. A significant portion of the company’s $58 billion in revenue filters from Redmond to the rest of the region. When Microsoft is in a slump, the effects are felt throughout Western Washington.

It’s also no surprise that Microsoft has built a strong relationship with the UW. A short stroll from the HUB is the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering, which secured substantial funding from Paul Allen, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Microsoft. The company also regularly provides grants and funding for UW programs, such as the DO-IT program, which helps students with disabilities attend college. The company’s research branch also has close ties with the university through programs such as the Center for Collaborative Technologies.

All of these reasons mean that the release of a successful Windows operating system would be a welcome respite from rising unemployment, especially due to the poor reception of Microsoft’s black sheep of operating systems: Windows Vista. The market-research firm Devil Mountain Software estimated that 35 percent of consumers who purchased PCs during the first half of 2008 downgraded their operating system to Windows XP. It looked like Microsoft had lost its way.

However, Windows 7 has gotten rave reviews from technology enthusiasts. Microsoft is even catering to one of the most tech-savvy consumer groups: the starving student. Windows 7 will be available to students until Jan. 3 of next year for $29.99, via the Web site www.win741.com.

While we might occasionally vilify Microsoft for some of its practices and problems, the company has made substantial contributions to Seattle.

Whether it is through its products or its charity outreach, Microsoft has both touched and enriched the lives of countless people. As students at the UW, we should be thankful that one of the foremost computer companies in the world is just a short drive across the water.

Reach columnist Mike Noon at opinion@dailyuw.com.