Windows Archive

Underlying Longhorn is the Windows Graphics Foundation, or WGF. The first version, prosaically dubbed "WGF 1.0" will incorporate DirectX 9.0c as its primary interface. Longhorn will also have the next-generation 3D API also built in at release. You can think of it as "Direct3D 10," but it's currently called WGF 2.0.

This document provides information regarding features that differ in functionality from Windows XP SP2. It is important to note that this document uses the Windows XP SP2 feature set as the baseline for comparison with Windows XP Professional x64 Edition. Features not documented here are at parity with Windows XP SP2 and function the same way.

So, with WinHEC coming to a close, the biggest talk was of course the newest release of Microsoft (R) Windows (R) Codename Longhorn, now at build 5048. With nearly one year since the previous release (build 4074) build 5048 sports some new features and lacks some others. Recently, the talk was centered around the lack of WinFS, the new futuristic Windows File system. However, we'll get to all that a little later.

Depending on how you apply them, roaming profiles can do anything from making your life easier to saving your bacon. If a user needs access from all over the building, roaming profiles are a convenience. If you have 50 users and only 10 computers, roaming profiles are an easy solution. If an entire department's computers die in the middle of a critical project, roaming profiles are a lifesaver.

Although Microsoft is recommending that computers be pretty modern to fully run the next version of Windows, Longhorn will probably also run on a good number of older machines. My Take: Actually, for those who have read the PPTs last year, this info was already there: Longhorn will have three levels of requirements, depending how much hardware acceleration/features you need.

What can we do to make the Windows desktop GUI more efficient? I admit that I'm addicted to "tweaking", which is what I consider to be finding new ways to make myself most efficient with standard tools from Microsoft.

Microsoft has further watered down the Next Generation Secure Computing Base (NGSCB) technology that will ship with its forthcoming Longhorn operating system. Many systems which Microsoft claims are "Longhorn ready" will not be able to support the security technology, vnunet.com has learned, and only part of the original security vision will be ready in time for the operating system's launch.

Windows 2000 is just two months away from ending free support. While there are alternatives, costly migration can cause many headaches and expenses. Do you still use Windows 2000? How are users going to be affected? You can read the story here.

Long-awaited versions of the operating system geared for speed finally see the light of day. Order it here for free to replace your 32bit version, or download a trial. A review is here.

Microsoft Group VP Jim Allchin discusses the shift to a new era of 64-bit computing as he looks back on earlier chapters of Windows history and looks ahead to the future with "Longhorn." Bill Gates has a spin to it too. Elsewhere, Winbeta gives an overview of the latest version of Microsoft Longhorn 5048. The article includes a lot of information and many screenshots from this latest release.

Redmond moves ahead with its next version of Windows Server, which is still due to ship before the end of this year. Also, Microsoft chief executive officer Steve Ballmer has unveiled the beta version of Virtual Server 2005 Service Pack 1 (SP1) at this week’s Microsoft management summit in Las Vegas. In the meantime, Microsoft is to ship 32-bit & 64-bit versions of Longhorn server.

Recently, Windows XP 64-bit Edition has turned Gold and by the end of the month it will be retailed. What are the advantages of the 64 bit technology, how does it work and what was the history of its introduction on the consumer market, all these topics wiere debated in this article.

Microsoft is readying two stripped-down versions of Windows for thin client computers. The idea is that people will use the new versions to resurrect older PCs, according to reports.

Even if the Windows XP is already a three years old OS, Microsoft decided that it is time to try convincing the users that Windows XP is a product like no other.