Posted on 04/18/2005 6:01:49 AM PDT by infocats
After months of keeping its prized cow in the barn, Microsoft is beginning to let Longhorn out of the stall for public viewing.
Beginning with brief demonstrations to reporters this week, the software maker is starting to shed light on just what the next version of Windows will offer when it hits the market next year. High on the list of features are security enhancements, improved desktop searching and organizing, and better methods for laptops to roam from one network to another.
"This is going to be a big deal," Jim Allchin, Microsoft group vice president, told CNET News.com on Thursday. While he acknowledged that Microsoft is unlikely to get throngs of people to show up outside retail stores on launch day as happened with Windows 95, he did say the company expects Longhorn to drive PC sales. "This product has something for everybody."
In a brief demonstration, Allchin showed off several key features that make the new OS stand out from prior versions. A "quick search pane," for example, allows users to type queries and instantly see matching files.
In both look and form, the search mechanism is similar to the Spotlight feature in Apple Computer's Mac OS X Tiger, which goes on sale later this month. Search results can be saved as virtual folders that are automatically updated to include all items that fit a particular query, such as "authored by Mary" or "containing the word 'Cleveland.'" Documents, pictures, music and even applications can also be given a rating or keywords to add further criteria for searching.
But while the OS bears plenty of similarities to Tiger, Allchin stressed that Microsoft has broken new ground in Longhorn. For example, document icons are no longer a hint of the type of file, but rather a small picture of the file itself. The icon for a Word document, for example, is a tiny iteration of the first page of the file. Folders, too, show glimpses of what's inside. Such images can be rather small, but they offer a visual cue that aids in the searching process, Allchin said.
Allchin said that Longhorn also goes further than Tiger when it comes to what one can do with search results, saying it offers new ways to organize and view the information. While the look of the OS hasn't been finalized, the translucent windows and other graphics tricks are expected to find their way into the finished software.
Microsoft clearly has a lot of work to do with Longhorn. Although the company has added Tablet and Media Center versions, as well as the Service Pack 2 security enhancements, a lot has changed since XP debuted five years ago.
What's in a name?
As for timing, Allchin said development is basically on track for the schedule outlined by the company last fall. An updated developer preview version will be given out at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, or WinHEC, set to take place at month's end in Seattle. The company is still shooting for an initial beta around midyear, though it could be July, as the new official schedule is "early summer." A second beta is planned, though no final date has been given, with the goal of having the OS broadly available on PCs by next year's holiday season. Longhorn will come in 32-bit and 64-bit versions, Allchin said.
While many details about Longhorn have been nailed down, others, including its name, are still up in the air. The company is close to deciding which different versions will be available, but it's not ready to announce that yet. It is too soon to say, for example, whether there will be separate Media Center or Tablet PC editions, Allchin said.
"We are moving features around," he said.
Microsoft talked fairly early about Longhorn, with company Chairman Bill Gates first demonstrating it at a developer conference
in October 2003. At the time, the company focused largely on the "under the hood" features of the OS--in particular, a new file system, Web services architecture and the presentation system.
Since then, Microsoft has significantly reshaped the OS. Last year, the company announced that it would pull out the new file system and that the Web services and presentation pieces would also be made available for Windows XP.
Got to know when to hold 'em
Allchin said his priority is making sure Longhorn meets quality standards, followed by getting the product out on schedule. Packing it full of features is a third priority, and the one most likely to give. As a result, Microsoft would delay Longhorn over quality concerns, but is unlikely to let individual features hold up its release. That could mean some further trimming around the edges if things fall behind.
As with Windows XP Service Pack 2, security remains at the forefront of Microsoft's development efforts. With Longhorn, Microsoft isn't focusing as much on building in antivirus software as it is changing the behaviors that leave computer systems vulnerable to attack. For example, most computers today are run in administrator mode, making it easy to add new programs and make other changes, but also allowing major fundamental changes to a computer to be made by malicious software.
With Longhorn, Microsoft is trying to change that so a computer runs with the least possible permission level. Only those programs that truly need administrator privileges would run at that level. Microsoft plans a similar change to Internet Explorer that would reduce the level of access given to external Web sites in an attempt to lessen the possibility of malicious attacks.
Microsoft also has focused on improving the experience when using a laptop computer. A fast-start option, combined with support for external displays, will make it easier to create computers that can display calendar information or play music without having to start up the whole PC, including the OS. Another change will make it easier for a person's PC to join a network at work or at home, while remaining invisible to other machines when getting Wi-Fi at a coffee shop.
In the category of making sure things "just work," Allchin cited enhancements such as making sure that a laptop that connects to a projector displays correctly without having to press any keys. In addition, he said, are settings tailored for specific tasks, such as watching a DVD. The computer will just assume that the user doesn't want the movie muted and probably wants to watch it full-screen.
Getting down to business
If there is more than one PC in a home network, Allchin said, it will be easy to allow sharing of files and easy to get at those files. For example, a PC with Longhorn might show all the music files together, whether they are on the local PC or another machine on the network.
There are also features designed to make it easier on businesses that use large numbers of Longhorn machines. Microsoft has created a new way for companies to put their custom installation of the OS onto a group of new machines.
Allchin said those enhancements--along with a reduction in the number of times customers have to reboot their machines and other features--will mean that companies that move to Longhorn will be able to cut their operating costs. Of course, he added, "that's up to us to prove."
Microsoft is also crafting its preliminary list of which capabilities a computer will need to run Longhorn. Allchin said the company is recommending that systems have 512MB of memory, as well as "today's level" of processor. There will be different levels of display quality depending on how much graphics horsepower a computer has.
The richest view, code-named Aero Glass, sports the fanciest bells and whistles, such as translucent windows that come to life when opened or maximized. That's where the heftiest graphics requirements come in, but Allchin said recent tests show it might not require as much horsepower as originally thought.
Another view, Aero, will have slightly lower requirements and offer many, but not all, of the features. Finally, a minimal user interface will look fairly similar to current versions of Windows.
Allchin said the company is continuing to tinker with different interfaces and their requirements, "but clearly we want as many machines as possible to have Aero Glass because there is a lot more we can do in that."
Jim Allchin is the same liar who promised all kinds of wonderful things ... for NT 3.1 (first version of NT). Same BS, different day.
What's the catch?
If history is any judge, it will be larger, slower to boot up and shut down, and be more things to more people.
Other than than, it seems to be much adieu about nothing...but to be fair, will have to give it a real test drive to see for myself.
As will the hacker community, I'm sure.
Isn't this O/S supposed to be 64-bit, so our 64-bit processors can take advantage of the new coding?
That in itself will make me upgrade.
-"This product has something for everybody."-
That is NOT a recommendation. Something-for-everybody usually means I'll be getting a pile of stuff I don't want, and the stuff I do want is merely adequate.
The icon for a Word document, for example, is a tiny iteration of the first page of the file. Folders, too, show glimpses of what's inside. Such images can be rather small, but they offer a visual cue that aids in the searching process, Allchin said.
You are probably right - think of the resources to show all the documents like that - people think it's cool, but then they turn around and carp about how slow their system is...
Never to late to start, I guess.
"For example, document icons are no longer a hint of the type of file, but rather a small picture of the file itself. The icon for a Word document, for example, is a tiny iteration of the first page of the file."
And people want more bloat from Microsoft to further slow things down? CPU's become faster and Microsoft is there to bog it all down to justify the sale of even faster chips. Give me lean and fast any day!
You know Microsoft is taking Apple quite seriously when it starts a dual-pronged attack at the time Apple is releasing Tiger.
All the Longhorn hype is using the old vaporware tactic. This keeps people from buying a competitor's product based on the expectation of great things to come from the vaporware company, although the competitor has it, and has it now. It's an old, sad tactic.
Second, the Windows XP ads coming out, trying to drown-out hype around Tiger and keep people with XP just a little longer until they can finally release Longhorn and maybe catch up to Tiger (and by then Apple will be about to release their next big cat).
But while the OS bears plenty of similarities to Tiger, Allchin stressed that Microsoft has broken new ground in Longhorn. For example, document icons are no longer a hint of the type of file, but rather a small picture of the file itself. The icon for a Word document, for example, is a tiny iteration of the first page of the file.
Uh, my computer, running Linux has been doing this for 2 years now. It's just eye-candy anyway, and not really very useful. As a matter of fact, this greatly slows down the rendering of a directory's contents when looking at it through a gui.
A bunch of other stuff jumped out at me as being fluff and/or eye-candy. Hardly worth spending money on an upgrade for. They've had 5 years to work on it, and this is all they have to show for it? HAHAHAHA
I think it's funny that microsoft feels the need to start trumpeting their vaporware as Apple begins rolling out a new version of OSX. I suspect the huge advertizing buys (as mentioned here. is designed to make sure the coverage of OSX.4 Tiger is minimal. It also makes sure the $$ backed editorial slant is communicated effectively to writers.
XP already iconizes your images and movies, and puts those on folder icons, but Word documents and Excel spreadsheets? The words will be the size of pixels, reducing the icon of the page to looking like it has a bunch of lines on it. Hey, that's what they look like now with no rendering overhead!
While the look of the OS hasn't been finalized, the translucent windows and other graphics tricks are expected to find their way into the finished software.
Wow, and only five years after Apple did it.
Longhorn will come in 32-bit and 64-bit versions
Why? OS X is 32/64 bit. Admittedly its 64-bitness isn't absolutely complete, but those parts that need to be 64-bit will be with Tiger.
With Longhorn, Microsoft is trying to change that so a computer runs with the least possible permission level.
This is too funny! You guys just figured this out? BWAHAHAHAHA!
The computer will just assume that the user doesn't want the movie muted and probably wants to watch it full-screen.
Whenever any Microsoft product takes it upon itself to do what it thinks I want to do, it's always wrong. That's why I have the Word real-time typing features turned off.
along with a reduction in the number of times customers have to reboot their machines and other features--
It's about friggin time! And I should pay for this "feature"? Last time I did a full install of a Windows box, I counted 12 reboots, and I didn't reboot every time I was told to. Just get a Mac now and begone with the multiple reboots.
The richest view, code-named Aero Glass
Hmmm. Aqua. Aero. Microsoft can't even come up with original names, always feeding off of Apple.
After a year's test drive tell me what you think.
I think we're going to get fresh lipstick on the same ol pig, but I could be wrong
Bdad
Early? Preview? LOL.
How will be its backward compatibility?
I heard it was to be a 3 Dimensional GUI (limited to certain graphic cards) but still have hard to imagine it and how to move around it.
Security is pretty solid on the Mac. Even if you're logged in as the administrator, you have to retype the administrator password for anything that modifies core services, making it very difficult to accidentally install a virus that can blow up your system. OSX also gives a notification the first time a program runs with an option to refuse permission (in case a virus sneaks through and tries to auto-run). I guess not allowing Internet Explorer to firebomb your core services without permission is an improvement, but it's still a butt-ugly operating system.
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