Microsoft Offers Peek Into Newest Windows

Upgraded to Windows XP (news - web sites) yet? If not, you might miss your chance, because Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT - news)is already working on the newest version of its operating system, code-named Longhorn, due for release in 2005.

Although Windows XP, the most current version of Windows, is just 20 months old, the world's largest software maker is betting that users will be ready to upgrade within the next couple of years as personal computers become more powerful, faster and affordable.

Details about the new operating system remain scant, but Microsoft has already started soliciting feedback from hardware makers and software developers on key features of Longhorn, such as its graphics and security capabilities.

The challenge for Microsoft is to ensure that Windows, the software that runs on nearly all of the world's personal computers, will show enough of an improvement to convince users to upgrade, while fending off growing competition from Linux (news - web sites), the free operating system.

Although Microsoft previewed some of Longhorn's features at a hardware engineering conference last week, the software giant is holding its cards close to the chest.

"Microsoft is pleased with the progress to date on the development of the next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn," said Greg Sullivan, lead product manager for Windows, but added that "it's important to realize the product is still under development and evolving each day. As a result, it's too early to talk about specifics for the final version."

Still, technophiles eager to get their hands on this nascent version of Windows have already circulated "alpha," or early working versions, on the Internet and are buzzing over some of Longhorn's newest features.

Much of Longhorn's most significant improvements will be in its basic design and inner workings.

Microsoft is also developing a new security technology, code-named Palladium, which is widely expected to be a part of Longhorn.

Palladium will allow Microsoft to secure information passing through software and, more significantly, hardware.

For example, Microsoft could encrypt keyboard strokes passing through the cable connecting the keyboard and the PC, making it difficult to find out a secret password or eavesdrop on sensitive information.

Since Palladium also makes it easier for Microsoft to track users and locate illegal copies of its software, some consumer groups and Microsoft's competitors have voiced alarm over giving the Redmond, Washington-based software maker too much control.

A new file system allowing the operating system to store data more efficiently will also be a core part of Longhorn's design, Microsoft has said.

That system, based on database technology, is aimed at facilitating storage of different types of files, which are automatically categorized, and also making it easier to manage files without using folders.

The new file system will also make it easier to store and retrieve data in different locations, such as on a server or another computer in a different location.

The most dramatic change for most users, however, will be in the design of the Windows desktop.

Recent demonstrations by Microsoft hint the software maker is aiming to make Windows behave more like, well, Windows.

The individual windows in Longhorn will be semi-translucent, making it possible to discern the contents of one window hidden behind another.

The trick is in the degree of opacity -- completely transparent windows atop one another would turn information into a jumble of letters and graphics, while more opaque ones might defeat their own purpose.

The operating system's windows would ripple when moved and shrink or expand their content automatically, effects that require a significant amount of graphics power, the kind usually reserved for high-action 3D games.

What this means is that the new software will most likely require new hardware or upgrades to work well. PC Makers welcome the opportunity to make new sales, but users are becoming increasingly reluctant to buy new hardware to go along with software every few years.

"Longhorn sort of continues Microsoft's insistence and belief that the desktop personal computer is best served by a fully high-powered device," said Dwight Davis, a strategist at Summit Strategies.

I love windows 2K, it is an excellent and stable platform.

Gaming, excellent, office stuff, excellent, other software, excellent.

Have not had it crash on me yet, and that's a long time, almost 6 months.

Win98SE crashed at least every other day if left on.

New Windows, Bah, I'll wait until windows 2010 thank you very much.

I used WInXP at home for a while but had trouble with my DSL line one day. The tech had me remove the NIC and let WinXP reinstall it. After it did it promptly told me that I had made too many hardware changes and I had to reactivate it. After attempting to do so, I gave up and put Win2K on it and I love it.

I use WinXP at work but I hate the start menu thing. I don;t like all the things it does on it own asking me if I want to do something I didn't ask it to do. I have had to reinstall it once for a client and had to call M$ to talk to a person to reactivate it after upgrading the motherboard.

I am learning Linux now. It's definately not Windows!
In short order Linux will be visable everywhere.
(It's already everywhere)
I have to feed my family so I'll have to work with whatever my job calls for but if they ask me I'd say Linux.

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