Unlike the previous Windows systems, Longhorn—Microsoft
Corp.’s next desktop operating system—will
have such big changes that the company might delay its release date
considerably. Microsoft originally said that we could expect
Longhorn in late 2002 or early 2003.
Longhorn represents a radical departure from other
Windows versions. It’s “a bit scary,”
admitted Microsoft’s chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates in
July 2003.
“We have been willing to change things,” Gates said.
Longhorn “should drive a whole range of upgrades, but that could be sort of delayed,”
he noted during the Redmong, Washington-based firm’s recent financial
analyst meeting.
Microsoft might undertake the uncharacteristic move of
establishing partnerships
with other OS makers to construct its XML-based Dynamic Management
Initiative (DMI) architecture, unveiled in
March 2003 at the Microsoft Management Summit.
Microsoft has been mum on Longhorn details, though it
trumpeted the initial Longhorn hype in front of customers,
developers and media at WinHEC (Windows Engineering Hardware
Conference) held in May 2003.
Alpha versions leaked on the Internet reveal some early
superficial changes, such as a vertical
“sidebar“—featuring a system clock, frequently
used applications-tray, desktop manager, and Internet
search—and the
ability to shift between several “virtual desktops“.
Longhorn will feature a new 3D-enabled graphical user interface
and a new storage system—WinFS, or
Windows File System—based on the existing
NTFS. The redesigned database-like file system will be based on
technology from
the next version
of Microsoft’s SQL Server database, code-named Yukon,
which is due out by the end of 2004. WinFS will enable users to view
files indexed from various physical locations.
There is no word yet on the status of Microsoft’s
proposed “Palladium” security architecture—designed
to “enhance user security by
preventing the tampering and copying of copyrighted
material”—and whether it will be incorporated into the next generation OS.
- Palladium:
- any statue of the goddess Pallas Athena; especially, the famous
statue to guard the safety of ancient Troy.
But Longhorn will be available in both server and client versions,
Microsoft said. It plans to push the .Net framework and tightly
integrate Longhorn with
its Visual Studio development tool, Microsoft Business Solutions,
Commerce Server, Content Management Server and Office System
offerings.
Asked if Microsoft would consider dropping some of the
innovations it has planned so the product can come out sooner,
Gates said no. “If you soplit
it up, then you delay one of the really great pieces.”
Microsoft seems to have changed its mind on the announced 2005
release for
Longhorn as Gates has now declined to comment on an actual
release date.
Considering that Microsoft thrice delayed the launch of
Windows Server 2003, analysts note
that the company may in fact decide not to release Longhorn
by 2005. Microsoft is still hashing out the security and
design features. Any new file system would have to be stringently
tested for compatibility with existing
applications. In October 2003, Microsoft will reveal further details
on Longhorn at its Professional Developers
Conference in Los Angeles.
Home come they chose Longhorn for the next generation OS?
The name wasn't chosen randomly. Remember that Windows XP was
code-named Whistler and the next major version of Windows is
code-named Blackcomb. Both of these names come from ski areas in
British Columbia, close to Microsoft’s headquarters.
At the foot of Whistler Mountain snuggles a saloon named
Longhorn that serves the local skiing population.
So if you happen to have a great time in the area and want to
check some local color, Longhorn probably serves you as a nice
stop after you’re done with Whistler.
