Next Step: Microsoft Longhorn:
Touted as the next upgrade to the Windows XP client operating system, Longhorn has been in the pipes for quite some time now. Longhorn’s development was first confirmed by Windows product manager Tom Laemmel in July 2001. It’s been a long time since then and initially expected to be just a minor upgrade to Windows XP with a late 2002 release, Microsoft has decided to do a complete overhaul of the existing operating system adding features like a 3-D enabled user interface, a SQL Server 2003 database based file system and a security architecture called Palladium. The final version is now expected to ship by late 2004 or early 2005 and the beta version by November 2003.
Now you must be wondering what’s with the funny name? Unknown to many people Windows XP was earlier code-named ‘Whistler’ and the next version of Windows server is code-named ‘Blackcomb’. Both of these are skiing areas in British Columbia near Microsoft’s headquarters, ‘Longhorn’ is a bar saloon between these two peaks. Get it Einstein?
Let’s take a detailed look at the new and improved features offered by Microsoft in Longhorn:
• Longhorn’s change in user-interface would include a Start Menu and Taskbar enhanced with a sidebar component which can optionally be locked to one side of the desktop. The taskbar would be an XML component providing access to local and remote resources. The interface would also utilize new age 3D video hardware for special effects, colourful and transparent screen icons, making the screen look more realistic and providing depth.
• An area where one can expect major change is in the file system that stores data in the system. Christened Windows Future storage (Win FS), it would be based on SQL Server 2003 database. This file system would create abstract physical file locations from the users and allow sorting & searching of complex data. In lay man’s terms, you will be able to search files by typing ‘show me the pictures I took last month’ or ‘show me the pictures from Diwali’, etc.
• Security and Privacy are the areas Microsoft seems to be eyeing keenly. ‘Palladium’ is a secure run-time environment being developed jointly by Microsoft, Intel and AMD. Enabled using special hardware security chips and microprocessor’s Palladium would be able to protect the end user from Privacy Invasion, Hacking, Spam and other electronic crimes.
• Other improvements would include enhanced media capabilities like an animated media player, recording DVD’s straight from a digital camcorder, support for DVD-R/RW, a new setup routine installing the OS under 20 minutes and permission to third party software developers to add integrated virus support.
While Windows XP was only a cosmetic upgrade to Windows 2000, Longhorn seems to show a lot of promise. Will Longhorn be compelling enough to get users to upgrade? Will Longhorn deliver the goods and live up to its claim & fame? Only time will tell.
-Vishal Pipraiya
P.S: For screenshots of Longhorn visit sites:
https://activewin.com/screenshots/longhorn
https://activewin.com/screenshots/longhorn2