Microsoft Offers Peek Into Newest Windows - Code-Named Longhorn, Due For Release in 2005.

[Seeker of Truth]

Microsoft Offers Peek Into Newest Windows
Sun May 18, 3:27 PM ET

By Reed Stevenson

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Upgraded to Windows XP yet? If not, you might miss your chance, because Microsoft Corp.is already working on the newest version of its operating system, code-named Longhorn, http://freeconservatives.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon115.gif 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, 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.

Read more @ Yahoo News.com (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030518/tc_nm/column_pluggedin_dc_2)

[Radical-Conservative]

I hope it's better than the POS XP Home

[Rhino]

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

[/ QUOTE ]
Then they'll release newer versions of Internet Explorer and Outlook Express to offset Palladium by introducing hundreds more easily exploitable security holes in your system.

[ QUOTE ]
....Microsoft could encrypt keyboard strokes passing through the cable connecting the keyboard and the PC.....

......Palladium also makes it easier for Microsoft to track users.........

[/ QUOTE ]
So one hallmark of their security system is that although it protects you against hackers in your own house with keyboard encryption, it makes your computer completely vulnerable to monitoring by Microsoft. All hail Big Brother Gates!

[DoctorDoom]

[ QUOTE ]
I hope it's better than the POS XP Home.

[/ QUOTE ]
That's what I'm using now, but you'd never know it to look at.

The first thing that went was the default Playskool Theme, by switching the system to "Classic Windows" mode. The next was returning to the standard Start Menu. After that, I shut off a whole shitload of "services" that have a purpose on a networked box, but not on my standalone machine. That saves about 40 megs of RAM load and speeds it up quite a bit.

I've been running it for about three weeks, and have yet to get a BSoD. It's a very stable OS.

[CaliGirl]

Nah! I am still using Win 98. However, I got Office 2000 and it's awesome.

I wonder if the there will be bugs with the newest Windows? There has been since Win 95. I first started with Win 3.1, never ever had a problem. http://freeconservatives.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon16.gif

[Rhino]

[ QUOTE ]
CaliGirl said:
I wonder if the there will be bugs with the newest Windows?

[/ QUOTE ]
That's a joke, right? That's like wondering if the sun will come up tomorrow.