“The new operating system is expected to be a key weapon in Microsoft’s battle against low-cost software based on freely shared code. Although various versions of Windows run more than 90 percent of the world’s computers, software developers are increasingly drawn to open-source software such as the Linux operating system”. Read the article at SeattleTimes by Brier Dudley.
Putting Microsoft Brand on a New Breed: Longhorn
About The Author
Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
Follow me on Twitter @EugeniaLoli
RE: “The new operating system is expected to be a key weapon in Microsoft’s battle against low-cost software based on freely shared code. Although various versions of Windows run more than 90 percent of the world’s computers, software developers are increasingly drawn to open-source software such as the Linux operating system”.
can people download ISO for free???
No Product key to type in???
no need to register???
does it include a free C+ compiler???
if not- i don’t want it..
>can people download ISO for free???
Why would a company that needs to pay taxes and employees, would give you its product for free?
If you want something that is free, get Linux or BSD, that have no company behind them.
RE: >>Why would a company that needs to pay taxes and employees, would give you its product for free?
If you want something that is free, get Linux or BSD, that have no company behind them.
then it can not compete with the FSF OpenSource GNU OSs
In your needs probably not. For other people’s needs, Windows can be what they need.
Reading that article was a little unnerving. Big brother in total control… I certainly *don’t* want my computer or other tools to “get to know me.”
Also, I fail to see how this will affect the use of Linux and other free OSes, which was the headline after all. People who want free will still use free.
One primary goal of Longhorn development seems to be to force a huge round of hardware upgrading. I expect to see MS investing heavily in hardware companies and development before 2005.
-Bob
It’s the user interface that worries me. I love the enhacements in XP over 2000, like the improved RDP, bridging network connections, etc, but I haven’t bought the product because I find the user interface frustrating the ‘you haven’t got a Passport’ nags. With each Microsoft release I have to spend more and more time getting it to look and feel more like ’98 style software. No ‘intelligent’ start menu and menu bars, all included start menu, etc.
From the screenshots I have seen I am getting more and more worried that what I know, am used to, and am most comfortable with is slipping away.
That said I am a big OS X fan and use it a lot so I am open to new user interfaces. The more transparent the OS, the better IMHO.
They shovel it pretty deep in that article.
“Not only am I trusting this computer with my pictures and my documents, but I’m actually trusting it with intimate details of my life.”
Must..resist.. gag reflex..
If I’m going to “trust it with intimate details of my life”, it won’t be running windows.
The whole concept of associating metadata with files and
having an advanced database-like file system sounds really neat.
Now, I could be wrong, but aren’t BeOS and MacOS centered around that idea? From what I’ve read especially the BeOS had a very advanced fs?
(I’ve never owned a Mac and have just recently installed a BeOS Dev. Ed. 1.1 box so I guess my comment is not really in any way authoritative.)
To me it sounds like the right way to go for Microsoft. While I admit that I’m not overly fond of some the business practises employed by the Redmond guys, I keep telling myself that they have a *lot* of smart people coding their stuff.
If the technology underlying their Exchange server and SQL server products is any indication of their profiency with databases and searching technology, Longhorn might just be a very strong competitor.
Any home-user/media-user type ‘alternative’ OS would be wise to match the key features of Longhorn (at least the ones not relating to monopolist practices and privacy-issues).
-Rune (hoping his post will get past the strict moderators
It sounds like this new OS is going to be damn slow with all the features they’ve talked about. If all the stuff in LongHorn is built using .NET, it will take a monster of a machine to run the thing. And isn’t the new 3D user interface in Longhorn as well?
And there are going to be bugs beyond bugs with all the complexity.
The DRM stuff is going to make using the computer a nightmare. However, enrollment at law schools will go up.
And Windows 2000 install CD’s will fetch good coin on the black market.
“In your needs probably not. For other people’s needs, Windows can be what they need.”
But increasingly, ( and especially by the time Longhorn is finally rolled out) while it _can_ be what they need, it doesn’t _have_ to be what they need. In fact,as Cheapskate pointed out there is a long list of reasons
why you would be better off without it.
With XP you may not have the BSOD to worry about anymore
but you still have the BSA.
Ernie Ball mfr of electric guitars had armed marshalls
burst in unnanounced and raid his place of business.
It cost him 90,000. Microsoft doesn’t fit his needs anymore he transitioned to Linux.
MS Windows is hassleware. Restrictions about when, where
how, with whom you can use it. Linux has a few but they
are there to empower you not kneecap you.
Let’s remember most users whether they be home or businesses just use the software they don’t resell it.
The majority of software code that is written is customized code for in house consumption. Whatever restrictions Linux has don’t impact you.
Recipe for a better world:
1. Get off the Oil
2. Get off the Microsoft.
Go longhorn if you want Longhorn…
Me? I’ll be backing up Win 2000 and XP service Packs to CD… cos you can bet your life support will end for them if MS decides to push as radical a new path for future OS’ as some suggest.
“Executives say Longhorn will provide more opportunities for developers to write and sell new programs than Windows XP did. But those developers will have to learn how to write programs that run with the new internal workings of Longhorn.”
Because of the changes in the file system and its accompanying metadata, I wonder if they will begin to sacrifice backward compatibility. New programs to take advantage of the new capabilities will probably not run on older versions of Windows. But they will probably retain the ability to run the old apps in the new OS.
A.N.
>>Longhorn is the code name for a radically new version of Windows designed to be a foundation of Microsoft’s business in the coming decade.
The MS Presspack for Lazy Journalists(tm) strikes again. This is nothing but marketing PR.
Let u$ all hurry to the $uperbe M$ o$ that will in$pire generation$ to come with increa$ed $ecurity (hehehehehehe) and new and wonderful way$ to view baby picture$.
>>And isn’t the new 3D user interface in Longhorn as well?
If you consider a crayola color scheme, “helpful” advertising links integrated into the desktop and file manager, and gradients everywhere to be “3D”, yes.
It will certainly be 1D at least: DRM.
>>Jones said users want assurance that they can trust their computers to store and protect their digital originals.
Mmmm-hmmm. Customers all over the world are demanding an OS that puts an end to sharing music with their friends and burning CDs to play in the car.
How about a new graphics system that isn’t as bitmappy as the original Mac 128 (with a few colors tossed in to try to fool you)?
How about getting rid of the registry, or having to reinstall every app when you reinstall the OS?
How about easier installation of apps, like dragging the app to a folder, instead of the need for these install and uninstall wizards?
These guys really don’t get it:
“Jones explains how this works by talking about how searches for digital photos would be handled: “You don’t want to search by file name, because they’re all called dsc035.jpg. You want to search, ‘show me the pictures I took last month,’ ‘show me the pictures of me and my wife,’ ‘show me the pictures of my children,’ ‘show me the pictures from Christmases.’ . . .To do that requires a change both in our user interface and also a change in our model for how information is stored on the computer.”
No, how about opening a photo organizing app, with a purpose designed interface for browsing and organizing photos? a la iPhoto?
Why do I want to search my hard drive for everything and anything the exact same way? OK, maybe this will turn out to be a big advancement, but I just don’t see it.
How often do I find myself really struggling and trying to find something on my hard drive? Never. In the finder windows in OS X there’s a search field. Almost every iApp has search field right out in the open. If I’m looking for an address I open the address book and there’s the search field, right out in the open. I type in the word (no need to specify a field). It finds the address and displays it in a way that’s useful for an address.
Why should I use a finder window or OS interface element (rather than an app window) to find a photo, or an address? Won’t the finder or OS have to open an app anyway to do anything useful with the file?
And then the other big improvement is palladium?????
Maybe they’ve got some other stuff in the works . . . but MS itself is saying the file system will be the biggest change. OK, if that’s the biggest, then this will excite noboody. But then most windows users aren’t buying windows because it’s exciting.
can’t you search like this right now?
show me the pictures i took last month
search *.jpg, and fill in created between (possible since NT)
show me the documents about “someterm” you can search for “containing words”
the only thing changing is that the os (ms) wants to learn more about you, and lock you in even tighter
… i don’t seem to find new information here ….
//Ernie Ball mfr of electric guitars had armed marshalls
burst in unnanounced and raid his place of business.
It cost him 90,000. Microsoft doesn’t fit his needs anymore he transitioned to Linux//
Hey dimwit, he had hundreds of *PIRATED COPIES* of Microsoft (and many other) products on his computers. He totally got what he deserved.
If getting caught stealing “doesn’t fit his needs” then good riddance.
Sheesh.
“If getting caught stealing “doesn’t fit his needs” then good riddance.”
True, but he took his medicine to the tune of 90,000.
I still don’t think anywant can be happy about the prospect of _armed US marshalls bursting in unannounced
like they were doing a drug bust for something that in
the name of Windows ubiquity they used to turn a blind
eye to.
Of course, now that MS can only grow by squeezing
moere money from their existing customer base, it is time
to tighten the screws.
But nonetheless I _do_ support MS in their battle against
software piracy.
Here is my 3 step recipe to end this dispicable behaviour.
1. Remove all MS products
2. Install Linux and Open Source Software.
3. Eulogize the now irrelvant,( as in does not apply) and
very much dead issue of Software Piracy as you see
fit.
Is it going to be easier to develop, easier to sell, or just plain easier to make sure that the buyer is the user (paladium)?
develop: NO (new APIs etc…)
sell: NO (gotta pay the tax to encrypt)
run: NO (security naturally inhibits use)
I have 10 useful computers in my house. I cannot imagine replacing all 10 with the new and improved longhorn software. let alone the cost of 10 upgrades. NOT A CHANCE!!!
Remember 64 bit pc’s are right around the corner. All that new interface probably will run under 64 bit cpu’s and 1 gig RAM (wich is by my terms cheap and in longhorns release would be cheap). Just a thought
“When you get into that new ‘digital-original’ kind of world, (you) need to go beyond security to this whole notion of trustworthiness,” he said. “Not only am I trusting this computer with my pictures and my documents, but I’m actually trusting it with intimate details of my life.”
I don’t trust ANY machine, let alone one controlled by Microsoft!
nEVER TRUST A MACHINE… once AI is in place and standard it will be able to take over 6the world!!! THE WORLD I SAYS!!!
1. Remove all MS products
2. Install Linux and Open Source Software.
3. Eulogize the now irrelvant,( as in does not apply) and
very much dead issue of Software Piracy as you see
fit.
Alright then, have a look at this:
http://www.propellerheads.se/products/reason/frame.html
Show me ANY program in Linux that does what this does, and I will switch this weekend. Otherwise, shut up already!
Buy PPC h/w and move over to Amiga OS5 by 2005. Easy, no sweat
” Otherwise, shut up already!”
Watch your tone. “give it a rest communicates the same thing without be rude.”
Darius wrote:
< snip . something about about an app that you can’t run
on linux or has no comparable equivalent. >
Yes , so? There are lot more examples like that.
But for most people Linux increasingly has alternatives for _most_ of the software they use: email ,web,wordprocessing, development, etc. Then there are emulators and virtual machines. That leaves the need for the odd dual boot.
My point is that a lot of people, a lot of offices can
can give the three fingered salute to MS and its bullyware. Then theier dreams won’t be darkened by the
spectre of the BSA playing Gerstapo.
Your post does nothing to refute that.
Why don’t you give it a rest and accept that a lot of people just don’t like MS or its products and have abundant well documented reasons for doing so.
You don’t have to be an extremist to dislike Microsoft
you just have to open your eyes.
There is probably no modern company more despised.
They earned it honestly though, all own their own without
help from anyone.
I can respect them for that.
My point is that a lot of people, a lot of offices can
can give the three fingered salute to MS and its bullyware.
Yes, I understand that .. I am just sick and tired of these morons who respond to any and every MS article with ‘reformat your hard drive and install Linux – you ignorant sheep!’ Yeah, I know that’s not always the exact wording used, but it’s always something along those lines. Well, guess what? With the kinds of apps I use, I CAN’T run Linux (at least not full time), and I’m tired of the zealots constantly running off at the mouth with this holier than thou attitude simply because they use apps which Linux happens to run well. I mean, you think it was their damn religion or something.
You may be right, there ARE a LOT of apps not available under Linux (I miss Reason, too).
I’ve been looking for a good music production suite for Linux for quite a while now, but couldn’t find anything suited.
But Linux has the power to run that kind of tools, check http://www.finalscratch.com, a very professional virtual DJ app (commercial), this one is not available for Windows, ’cause of stability and latency issues.
It allways depends on what you’re doing, I don’t run Window$ on any of my 5 PCs, cause I dislike M$. I do mostly web development, graphics and programming, and find Linux far better for this kind of work…
“Yes, I understand that .. I am just sick and tired of these morons who respond to any and every MS article with ‘reformat your hard drive and install Linux – you ignorant sheep!’ ”
Well, my appeals to install Linux are usually in the context of some issue, and I hope explicitly or implicity there is some qualification to my “calls to Linux” .
My preferred intro to Linux is the Dual Boot, rather than
cold turkey, reformat MS into ghost bytes.
For the average user,( vs say a sysadmin) my beefs with MS have always been more with MS tactics rather than technical or even aesthetic. Not that I don’t have the latter, it’s just I can only get so worked up about “clicking the start button to shudown the computer is idiotic” as an issue.
I guess I am saying get off the Microsoft if and when you can and that this is more possible than more people
realize.
It’s just that I cannot resist the sly almost semi-zen like cleverness of the various ” fight software piracy, install linux” sigs I see. They so neatly illustrates that if your software doesn’t come with onerous license restrictions then piracy is a non-issue.
I guess I am pretty rough on MS, but if they would just be good Do Bees, I would have no problem with them. But they don’t (imho) so I do.
ESR misses the point of VMS and its CLI. You don’t have to type out the whole command. ie: you can type DIR instead of DIRECTORY. Either will work.
Learn more about VMS next time.
I think Longhorn will no longer backward compatible with older programs. That’s why MS “eat” Connectix to provide Longhorn’s VPC to run existing software.
Palladium accroading to Microsoft is *optional*. And if they are sane businessmen, it would stay that way for some time as when Longhorn would be released, there would still be a lot of non-Palladium/TCPA machines. Meanwhile it is not an effort to erradicate Linux. Distributions can create binary distributions that enables TCPA, while those interested enough to have everything compiled by themselves probably wouldn’t be interested in running Windows, no less the latest version.
And who’s big fat idea was to bring TCPA into the issue of Microsoft acting as a big brother. TCPA is a vendor-neutral thing. Similar with other encryption technology, only it uses hardware to decrypt rather than software making it harder to crack. As it is vendor neutral, all vendors behind it promised no royalties (but the question whether some sick company claiming patents over it would crop up – I don’t know).
And besides, I think it is not fair to bash Microosft based on conspiracy theories. Besides, DRM remains one of those things Microsoft is not so interested in. It has place in DRM because there is a potential amount of money to make – even Real have DRM now. But DRM isn’t the main reason for Palladium, and would never be.
Like Longhorn or office activation that can’t be readily cracked.
Or getting the entire music world to use their DRM-infested WM9 (against their better judgment) and thereby making “the ability to play music” another reason you “have to” “choose” windows.
>Meanwhile it is not an effort to erradicate Linux
No off course not they also target MacOSX, Novell, FreeBSD…..etc..etc..
>And besides, I think it is not fair to bash Microosft based on conspiracy theories
Theory? Its very clear Microsoft will become the new Klez@32 virus only this time it will be impossible to desinfect, clean , renome, move or delete it..
>Besides, DRM remains one of those things Microsoft is not so interested in
Are you sure about that?
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/drm.aspx
Microsoft has pervasively integrated DRM into the next version of Microsoft Office. It is called RM or Information Rights Management (IRM) instead of DRM because of the massive reaction against DRM.
Windows Media Player for a long time has had DRM in it. Microsoft even installs DRM into Mozilla if it finds it.
Microsoft has pushed for more and more “rights management” because Microsoft believes it is STRATEGIC for their business.
Without Microsoft owning the technology for the locks and keys to the bulk of business content, they will be in good position to keep Linux out of business.
Once “rights management” gets put onto any piece of content, it becomes unusable except if you have a rights management compatible PC. That means everyone has to upgrade to TCPA-enabled hardware and a Palladium-based OS, i.e. Windows.
It is naive to think Microsoft is not creating a giant DRM web for their own advantage. Microsoft knows how to dominate the market via creation and ownership of API’s.
But Linux has the power to run that kind of tools, check http://www.finalscratch.com, a very professional virtual DJ app (commercial), this one is not available for Windows, ’cause of stability and latency issues.
Riiiight. I use Native Instruments Traktor DJ Studio. And it runs FINE at 10ms latency over ASIO, and its STABLE (both app and Windows) too over long periods of time.
The arguments of those Final Scratch devs are pretty poor, almost tending to be usual Anti-MS propaganda done by linux zealots.
Hi Mr. Dudley,
The biggest outside joke is Microsoft and security. It’s right up there with jokes about Dan Quayle being a member of Mensa. NOT!
“The new operating system is expected to be a key weapon in Microsoft’s battle against low-cost software based on freely shared code.”
Bill Gates knows that cost isn’t the main issue with Open-Source software. The main issue is that if there is a bug in the software you can access the source code and fix it. No matter what “MR.” Gates says. This will always be a big issue which will override any supposed TCO savings Windows supposedly will have in the future. There is no such thing as low TCO if you can’t get the software to do what you need it to do.
“With Longhorn, Microsoft hopes to assert technical superiority and create opportunities for developers to build and sell programs that take advantage of its new technologies.” Another thing that “Mr.” Gates knows isn’t true and won’t be true. I’ll refer to this as another big joke. File is under laughable “techical superiority.”
“Longhorn also may change the look and feel of computers by taking advantage of video and 3-D capabilities of new computer chips and graphics hardware.”
Guess what. Mac OS X already does this and they are sharing this (can you say open-source Darwin project) and Linux people are already working on this to include it as part of the base GUI for Linux. My guess is that it will be a close race to see whether Linux or MS gets this first. But they will both be still years behind Apple on this.
“Computers built around Longhorn also may look different. Microsoft is trying to play a bigger role in the design of computers by helping manufacturers build machines that make the most of its software.”
Of course it will look different. It will look very similar to whatever new desktop GUI looks cool. Microsoft has been and will always be a follower.
Want examples? DOS was like UNIX. Windows 1-3.1 was like Mac OS. Windows ’95-2000 is like OS/2. XP is like Mac OS X. This is just WAY to easy. Like shooting fish in a barrel.
“… 28-year-old company … Longhorn will also be the first new consumer operating system built under Gates’ mandate to place top priority on improving the security, reliability and privacy protection in Microsoft products.”
You mean they finally get it that security, relability, and privacy protection (which is also security) is important now? You’ve GOT to be kidding me. By the way. Swiss cheese will always have less holes than Microsoft products. Something else that Microsoft and Swiss cheese have in common. Both stink when left in the open for 28 years.
“Jim Allchin, the group vice president in charge of the Windows division, said Longhorn and other upcoming releases reflect the higher priority Microsoft is placing on listening to customers’ needs, and the way it has learned to push more of its advanced research into products. ”
Again. It took them 28 years to get this?
“We want to make it more relevant to people both at home and at work,” he said. “We have a bunch of catch phrases that we use internally — as convenient as paper, as entertaining as a TV, as connected as a phone — that sort of thing. We think we can make it much more submersive in someone’s life.”
Microsoft’s problem has never been a lack of “catch phrases.” Their problem was and still is their lack of security and reliability and that their software gets in the way of what you are trying to do. How many times have you “worked around” MS-Word or Front Page to get something to look and act the way you want it to. Or are you just so used to doing this that you can’t remember anymore?
“Investors are hoping the software will be the catalyst for Microsoft’s next big growth spurt and take advantage of pent-up demand to replace the nearly 600 million personal computers in use around the world.”
Of course they are. They don’t want stock that isn’t worth anything. It will soon be time to dump MS stock as it is finally coming near where Microsoft is going to start collapsing under its own weight like an old volcano (check out the older Hawaiian Islands that use to be as big or bigger than the current “big island.”
“Innovations aside, ”
Ok. Another big joke for the Microsoft joke book. There are no innovations at Microsoft. They copy what other people make and then make just enough changes to make it look somewhat different. I also wouldn’t say they “evolve” software either since again, they following other companies and copy what they do. There is no innovating at Microsoft.
” It’s scheduled to go on sale — along with a new generation of PCs designed to take advantage of its power — around the time Gates expects the world to emerge from its economic slump. A recent report by Merrill Lynch said corporate technology spending remains low, and the technology industry won’t turn around until 2004 or perhaps 2005 — just when Longhorn will arrive. ”
Linux is already ready to “take advantage” of the new generation of PCs.
“Microsoft has sold more than 90 million copies of Windows XP since it was launched in October 2001, but that hasn’t been enough to reinvigorate the PC industry.”
Too bad Longhorn will have less copies sold than XP. And you stated the answer in your next paragraph.
“One problem is that most Americans who want a PC already have one — they’re in at least 65 percent of homes — and most people are satisfied with the ones they have, according to surveys by Forrester Research in Cambridge, Mass.”
Sorry. No “reinvigoration” from Longhorn. Note that you paragraph above alone worries Microsoft. But it also very much worries them that most people see no reason to change from Office 97 or 2000 to Office XP and won’t have much incentive to spend hundreds of dollars to “upgrade” to Office 2003 or whatever its name will be. But the fact that Linux will take more and more desktops away from Microsoft (it was reported that everyone expects 10% of India’s desktop computers to be running Linux in the near future). MS and “Mr.” Gates are of course very worried.
“Another challenge is the rise of operating systems based on Linux, but several analysts said that’s mostly growing in corporate computing centers and is unlikely to topple Microsoft’s dominance in desktop PCs. ”
The reason that Apple didn’t win the desktop (among other reasons) is that DOS won the corporate desktop. Linux will take over the home desktop because it will take over the corporate desktop. It’s all just a matter of time.
If Apple figures things out and is able to cut in half the cost of their PCs. Then Apple will also give MS a big run for the money. Just in case you might not be aware of this, Apple now includes X11 as part of Mac OS X which means that most Linux programs will or soon will run on Macs. Hmmmm
“With Longhorn, Microsoft may once again find the biggest competition is its own software. Many consumers and companies will have recently bought Windows XP when Longhorn goes on sale.
“When you have something that’s pretty decent, like Windows 2000 and Windows XP, it gets pretty hard to come out with the next thing that will be compelling, to get people to upgrade,” said Mike Silver, an industry analyst with the Gartner consulting group in Stamford, Conn. ”
This has already been covered above.
“Still, there is little on Microsoft’s horizon other than Longhorn with the potential to really increase the company’s profits, said Victor Raisys, a stock analyst at SoundView Technology Group in San Francisco.”
Uh. Sorry. This isn’t going to happen. They will be lucky if they make as much from LongHorn as they did from XP which made less then Windows 2000. This is based on Microsoft’s numbers.
“Meanwhile, Microsoft is pushing to get Longhorn done on time. It’s deciding how many features it can include and how much it can upgrade Windows while remaining on schedule. ”
The joke in this statement is the “on time” part. Microsoft has never released anything on time with the features they claimed were going to be included. That only came after one or two fix packs but always felt more like a kit car than a production car lacking among other things security and reliability.
“”Longhorn will be the first release we’ve done since Windows 95 for the client where we’re able to do basically three things – (create) end-user excitement, developer excitement and new excitement for the hardware vendors,” Jones said. ”
The excitement came from MS spending over a BILLION dollars on marketing ’95. Are they going to have to do that again? My answer would be yes. Are the Rolling Stones still alive? I’m guessing that Jay Leno would be glad to help again.
Funny thing about Jay Leno. Take a look at all of his articles about cars on Popular Machanics. If you take all of what he says and apply it to operating systems and software in general. He would have to be a Linux/open-source person and would hate MS. Maybe someone out to bring this to his attention.
“He organizes Microsoft’s investments in Longhorn into two “buckets.” In the first are basic improvements to its performance, reliability, security and privacy protections. Those are being developed in conjunction with an online service that will provide Longhorn users with updates and improvements as they are developed. ”
We’ve already talked about these “buckets.” When Swiss cheese is solid I’ll believe they can ship a solid product. Until then…
“In the second bucket are new ways to use a PC. Those include new applications Microsoft is developing and efforts to help other companies build new programs for Longhorn-powered computers. ”
You mean they aren’t trying to get in the way? Maybe the Linux/open-source “movement” should get on that bandwagon (meaning encouraging developers to develop for Linux/open-source). They already are? Ok.
“Executives say Longhorn will provide more opportunities for developers to write and sell new programs than Windows XP did. But those developers will have to learn how to write programs that run with the new internal workings of Longhorn. ”
The answer to this is no. New inventions of hardware and the ability for newer CPUs to do more gives developers more opportunities for developers. By the way. The inventions aren’t coming from Microsoft. We’ve covered that above. Search for “copying”.
“The biggest change is to the file system that stores documents in the computer. Longhorn’s system will be based on a new database the company is developing that is designed to make it easier to find, sort and retrieve each document. ”
You mean like BeOS had? MS may be doing more with it. But not if they hadn’t force Be Inc. into bankruptcy and selling themselves to Palm. Be would have already included everything MS is going to do. It was in their roadmaps for their filesystem/database.
“Jones explains how this works by talking about how searches for digital photos would be handled: “You don’t want to search by file name, because they’re all called dsc035.jpg. You want to search, ‘show me the pictures I took last month,’ ‘show me the pictures of me and my wife,’ ‘show me the pictures of my children,’ ‘show me the pictures from Christmases.’ ”
This is already working on Mac OS X in iPhoto. Yes I realize that the file system isn’t a database for OS X. Guess what. You don’t need it to be.
“To do that requires a change both in our user interface and also a change in our model for how information is stored on the computer.”
In other words. To work more like Mac OS X does.
“Hunting for files
This storage technology is challenging, and its refinement will continue after Longhorn is completed, but Gates insisted that it be part of the new operating system. One reason is that he has always dreamed of making it easier to find files on computers. His mandate was that the technology make it easier to find data on different machines. That would make it easier to learn to use a PC because users would have to learn only one way to search for things.
“This is one where very much I’m the most committed to making sure we get it exactly right,” he said. ”
Microsoft isn’t the only company working on this. “Finder” on Macs already does a great job of finding files or content inside of files both locally, on LANs, and on the internet, all isn’t of one “finding” utility. Xandros, Lindows, and other desktop Linux products are also working hard on this issue.
“The search tool sounds similar to the popular Google search engine, but turned inward into the computer rather than out onto the World Wide Web. ”
I already mentioned the Mac “Finder” which does both local and internet searches.
“But Allchin bristled at the comparison. “Google’s a very nice system, but compared to my vision, it’s pathetic,” he said. ”
Here’s a little reality. Microsoft’s current search utilities are pathetic. They love to blow smoke. I’ll believe they have a better product when I see it. All I see so far is smoke. Have you heard the term “vapor ware?” It was invented because of Microsoft. They are long on promises and short on deliverables.
“Allchin said his goal is to have computers learn about the user, helping set the context for searches. ”
There are already systems out there like this.
“The workings of file systems may be arcane to the average user, but Microsoft plans to use the technology as a selling point. It would emphasize how the system can make businesses more productive by making it easier for workers to find and share documents. ”
When you don’t really have any other good selling points I guess you have to go with what you hope you will have.
“Another selling point for Longhorn will be its security and privacy enhancements, including a controversial security system that makes it possible to restrict copying of digital files. The system may appeal to music publishers and companies that handle sensitive documents, but it could reduce the control users have over data in their machines. ”
Can you see the forest through all the smoke?
“One way Microsoft is introducing this new era of digital-document controls is with the concept of “digital originals,” referring to original, authentic and legal copies of documents.
Jones said users want assurance that they can trust their computers to store and protect their digital originals.
“When you get into that new ‘digital-original’ kind of world, (you) need to go beyond security to this whole notion of trustworthiness,” he said. “Not only am I trusting this computer with my pictures and my documents, but I’m actually trusting it with intimate details of my life.” ”
And trust is what Microsoft is losing more every single day.
A very good response. Even if I had flashbacks of Rajan.
i worked for 8 years on windows and these were the fu*** cruelst years in my life. so, i never buy or use a product of these stupid guys. neither at home nor in my company! – //i just use my mac and i’m the happiest guy on earth! holy mac!
i use both win xp and redhat 8, and the only thing that spontaneously comes into my mind which i currently can’t do with linux compared to windows is watching streaming media from the internet (plugins for mozilla and xine as well as mplayer are still in an early stadium, but within a year, even this rel. small issue will be solved).
admitted, it still takes some manual tweaking to get all things working as you want them to which is not everyones task, and some things like a distribution-independent graphical installer like installshield are deeply missed (but is also in the works), but again, within a year or two, i guess that most or all of these issues will be perfectly solved-even more freak-orientated distr. like debian have acknowledged the need for more ease-of-use and integration.
so why buying a proprietary os with proprietary interfaces/standards with drm from an arrogant monopolist which brings-according to the preliminary infos-no real new benefit to the user?
sure, if you need to exchange documents/data with other people (like word or powerpoint files), you still need to have microsoft products, but more and more people/companies will chnage to linux because of the massive amount of $$$ which they can save that way, so sooner or later microsoft won’t be able to hide behind their fortress built from their standards anymore.
i see hard times coming for them, they can (and imo will) only loose marketshare (and have to reduce their pricing), and if they won’t be able to reinvent themselves, embracing the open-source-movement (which they can’t buy, sue or compete with in terms of manpower, and which is also very risky for them) or somehow innovate in a tremendous and unseen way, the will-in the long run-go down!
>You want to search, ‘show me the pictures I took last month
Ever notice that “Date Modified” tab when you hit the F3 key?
>The workings of file systems may be arcane to the average user, but Microsoft plans to use the technology as a selling point. It would emphasize how the system can make businesses more productive by making it easier for workers to find and share documents.
By bundling Access into the “Operating System” instead of addressing the issue at a lower level, this supposed to be a technical revelation?
>office activation that can’t be readily cracked.
Umm, there’s a lot you don’t know.