The tiny hamlet of Sietes, in the northern province of Asturias, has just 40 villagers and one slow internet connection, and most of the inhabitants admit they’re not sure how to use a computer.

So they were surprised when Microsoft decided to use their village as the backdrop for a commercial celebrating the launch of Windows 7, the company’s next-generation computer operating system. Microsoft staff arrived with 50 computers to teach the villagers how to use the new software, and filmed an advert which will be screened worldwide from Oct 22 to mark the launch.

Microsoft said it had chosen the village because its name translates as “Sevens”, and it wanted to show that Microsoft’s technology was in everyone’s reach.

Windows 7

Ramon Prida, who runs the village bar said it was an “interesting” experience for the whole village. “There’s no cable connection, no ADSL or anything of the sort here,” said Jaime Tabernero, who appeared in the adverts. “To connect to the internet, there’s one Wi-Fi signal of only 512kb.”

Windows 7 (formerly codenamed Blackcomb and Vienna) is the latest version of Microsoft Windows, a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, netbooks, tablet PCs and media center PCs.

Windows 7 was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009, with general retail availability set for October 22, 2009, less than three years after the release of its predecessor, Windows Vista. Windows 7′s server counterpart, Windows Server 2008 R2, is slated for release about the same time. It was advertised using a video to show how people could demonstrate it to friends and family.

Unlike its predecessor, which introduced a large number of new features, Windows 7 is intended to be a more focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line, with the goal of being fully compatible with applications and hardware with which Windows Vista is already compatible.

Presentations given by Microsoft in 2008 focused on multi-touch support, a redesigned Windows Shell with a new taskbar, a home networking system called HomeGroup, and performance improvements. Some applications that have been included with prior releases of Microsoft Windows, including Windows Calendar, Windows Mail, Windows Movie Maker, and Windows Photo Gallery, will not be included in Windows 7; some will instead be offered separately as part of the free Windows Live Essentials suite.