Windows Vista Preview (pre-Beta 1)
A general overview
Sunday, July 24, 2005 by Frogboy | Discussion: Windows Vista
Very shortly Longhorn Beta 1 will be coming out. The current expected date is August 3, 2005. So what's in it? What can we expect? Microsoft was kind to inform a group of us what beta 1 would be like. Because of our NDA, I can only recap what is already known with a bit more detail. Once beta 1 ships, we'll be free to write more. And hopefully I'll be able to show some cool screenshots.
First off, as many already have heard, Longhorn has been christened "Windows Vista". It will probably come out in August 2006. In my view, Windows Vista has 3 goals:
1) Security. Microsoft wants to make sure Windows Vista is very secure. It will hopefully bring an end spy ware and malware and the like.
2) Developer Flexibility. A great deal of work in Windows Vista appears to be setting the stage for the future. Long ago, there was a second Microsoft OS code-named "Blackcomb" which was to be the follow-on to Longhorn. In my opinion, Longhorn is setting the stage for what comes next. It is doing this through the creation of several new, and more effective ways of creating content and software. For example, Avalon is a development platform that is designed to make it much easier to create visually exciting applications. It's a whole new presentation sub-system. Avalon applications are typically written in a new mark-up language called XAML. There is another mode called Avalon-Express applications which I think are particularly exciting -- Avalon apps can be run as part of a web page. Naturally, some Macintosh users will claim that this is like "Dashboard". And indeed there are similarities here. But Microsoft has been working on Avalon a lot longer than Apple was working on Dashboard. And Avalon Express applications are designed to be very secure from day 1. Another new development platform is called Indigo. It's .NET based and is designed to make it much easer to create network-based programs. And then there's the integration of RSS into the OS. Microsoft seems to believe that RSS is going to be a dominant way of making use of data in all kinds of interesting applications. We think the same thing. For example, when IE 7 starts coming close to release, we plan to make WinCustomize's skin galleries support RSS.
3) Polish. Microsoft had little more than a year to take Windows 2000 and turn it into Windows XP. This time, Microsoft has put a lot of effort into figuring out how to make Windows easier to use and have better "fit and finish" to it. Much of this is provided by the new user experience called Aero. And it really kicks ass. Early on, there were screenshots of concepts for Aero. They were bulky, ugly, and over-kill. Aero has come a long way though and Microsoft seems to be intent on making this version of Windows the most polished, cleanest, best OS they've made yet. We're not just talking about being pretty, which it is. But also being far more responsive to user input, booting up faster, better memory management.
When beta 1 comes out, bear in mind that the "good" stuff won't really show up until beta 2 Beta 1, I believe, is primarily designed to knock out compatibility bugs and put what's there through the ringer to make sure they've got a solid foundation in which to take care of the rest.
When you put all the pieces together, you have a pretty significant improvement over Windows XP. It should be a secure, fast, visually appealing OS that lends itself to new and innovative software development opportunities.
When Beta 1 is released, I can go into much more detail and with a lot more specifics. Stay tuned.
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Reply #2 Sunday, July 24, 2005 10:22 PM
I am also quite excited about this new OS basically due to the outlined items you have listed.
A little more secure, interactive, and visually appealing - along with what appears to be an improved navigation system sounds like a healthy step in the right direction.
If the extra hardware utility for measuring and adjusting performance makes it into the box - and performs as expected by MS, I think we can look forward to a nice product from Microsoft.
Thanks again.
Reply #3 Monday, July 25, 2005 1:09 AM
Reply #4 Monday, July 25, 2005 1:39 PM
Thanks.
Reply #5 Monday, July 25, 2005 4:19 PM
Reply #6 Monday, July 25, 2005 8:22 PM
Reply #7 Monday, July 25, 2005 10:57 PM
Microsoft has been subject to a great deal of negative opinion regarding the delays, but one has to wonder how many will have egg on their faces when the final OS is released and is proved to be a better product for the extra time taken to ensure users are happier campers.
Love him or hate him, Bill Gates is no fool and should be commended for using better business sense and delaying the release of a less than ready OS, as is.
Reply #8 Tuesday, July 26, 2005 12:28 AM
Would like to see this from MS but my mind is saying..."Yea..Right!"
Either way, I am looking forward to it.
Thx for the update
D
Reply #9 Tuesday, July 26, 2005 6:12 AM
| should be commended for using better business sense and delaying the release of a less than ready OS |
If that was the only reason, I'd have to agree. However, the delay seems to have been caused by Microsoft changing horses in mid-stream. The original Longhorn (or Vista) started out life using a code base taken from Windows XP (as XP is based on Windows 2000 Pro). Then it became obvious to them that XP had too many security flaws to make it practical to use that code. At that point, it was decided to toss all that in the trash bin and go with Windows 2003 Server for the new kernal. That 3 year period of wasted time was the cause of the Longhorn delay.
I was really disappointed to find this out. I had high hopes that Microsoft would do more or less of a ground-up rewrite of Windows, since I felt that this would result in the kind of OS that could carry us all forward for many years. Well, it didn't happen. Hopefully the new OS won't be too much of a kludge.
Reply #10 Tuesday, July 26, 2005 10:04 AM
i mean people just started getting used to windows 2000 and ME then suddenly there was XP
Reply #11 Tuesday, July 26, 2005 7:01 PM
Now, why didn't they let them stay? Money. They're not selling either product any more, so money is purely being paid out for support costs.
Reply #14 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 11:53 PM
| i wonder why Microsoft didn't let windows 2000 and ME stay in the market for one more year? |
Because ME was a dog of an OS.....95a was better...
Reply #15 Thursday, July 28, 2005 1:51 AM
| i wonder why Microsoft didn't let windows 2000 and ME stay in the market for one more year? |
| Because ME was a dog of an OS.....95a was better... |
Tongue in cheek again, huh? So you really think that ME was great, much better than 95a?
Reply #16 Thursday, July 28, 2005 2:10 AM
Oh, ptui......Jafo blows raspberry
ME is a dog....95a is better...... 
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Reply #1 Sunday, July 24, 2005 2:47 PM
I'm glad to see you've moved off of your recent criticism of Microsoft in this area. I agree that what they're doing with RSS is exciting.
Thanks for the article. Can't wait to read more.