myITforum.com : Windows Longhorn will serves extremely as a client operating system . . .

The Microsoft corporation has officially confirmed the information that its new operating system, known under code name Longhorn (see Appendix 1: “The New the version of Windows - Windows Longhorn . . .), will be intended for installation only on client computers (other words will serves extremely as a client operating system). According to the manager of Server Operating Systems department of Microsoft corporation - Bob O'Brain, the decision to refuse the release of server variant of Longhorn explained that the new operating system would be issued soon after a Windows .Net Server 2003. Small interval between releases of two server operating systems would bring a confusion in a market and only would “injure“ customers and the Microsoft.

The following, after a Windows .Net Server 2003, release of the server operating system from Microsoft is held at the end of 2005 - the beginning of 2006 year. While the new server operating system is known under code name Blackcomb it is not known whether Blackcomb client version will be released. For example, in a material on computerworld.com site affirms, that is held both server, and client release of Blackcomb. Observers of Network World Fusion site inform, that Blackcomb becomes extremely server product.

It is interesting, that earlier, the Microsoft representatives repeatedly approved, that their company purpose - simultaneous release of client and server operating systems, otherwise a significant growth of costs is observed. However, realize this desire software giant can only during Windows NT 4.0 and a Windows 2000 releases. Since the last year, a graphics for client and server operating systems releases have begun "to move down" from each other.

In particular, Windows .Net Server (before known under the code name Whistler) release originally should take place simultaneously with Windows XP release. But, then the release date for the new server operating system was repeatedly postponed, and in the total, right now, it is late more than for one year. Partly it is possible to explain it the increasing distinctions between server and client operating systems. In case of Windows NT 4 this distinction between the server and workstation editions was minimal, but in case of a Windows of 2000 this (distinctions) became more essential. In case of a Windows .Net Server delays may be connected to the delayed implementation of .Net technology.

Appendix 1: “The New the version of Windows - Windows Longhorn . . .”

Last week on Winbeta.org site ( Right now it seams, that this site is closed... Probably by Microsoft !?!?) were published screenshots developed by Microsoft next version of Windows operating system. As the authors of this information assert, this screenshots are made from the Windows Codename Longhorn Build 6.0.3683. Lab06_N.020923-1821, issued at September, 23.

Microsoft carries on the procedure of Longhorn development in strict privacy conditions. One it may serve as an occasion to doubt of authenticity of these, and all other, future, Longhorn screenshots. There are only a little bit of the official information (from Microsoft) about this new operating system: few times Microsoft heads have mentioned it code name in a speeches and a mention in one of the Microsoft documents send to a court, during the trial about violation of the exclusive legislation.

It was initially planned, that Longhorn begins, some kind of an intermediate release between existing versions of operating system and Blackcomb system, which would present completely new operating system. Then however, the Microsoft should pay more and more than attention to it, that allows us to speak that Longhorn becomes a new stage in development of operating systems from Microsoft.

The most part of the official information about Longhorn was told by the founder of Microsoft - Bill Gates in the summer of this year (see Appendix 2: “. . . Longhorn will differ considerably from existing versions of a Windows . . .“). Base element of Longhorn (according to Gates) will be hardware - software security system (known as Palladium). It will observe all user operations, not allowing him to break the accepted norms of data safety. Besides that, Palladium is aimed “at struggle” against a software piracy and will be responsible also for limitation of copying and distribution authoring content.

Speaking about other innovations in Longhorn, it is not necessary to forget that practically all the information about this operating system is grounded on the unchecked data and hearings. Pol Terrot, owner of WinSuperSite approves, that all the information he published based on Microsoft employees certificates. According to Tåððît, Longhorn task bar will be completely advanced – and will be located on the right or on the left side (and will be similar to Microsoft Office XP task bar).

Besides that, in Windows Longhorn the various 3D-effects will be used, directed on creating more realistic working environment. Òåððît confirms (appeared in the beginning of the 2002 year) hearings that in Longhorn the new file system, based on relational database, will be used that allowû to systematize the data of different types, such as mail messages, contacts, documents and musical files.

Let's return, however, to Longhorn screenshots. Screenshots, published on WinBeta.org site were accompanied by the comments in style “… these are the real screenshots, without any Photoshop effects …”. After a very short time this screenshots was removed from a site, ostensibly on demand of Microsoft. The first sight on this «pictures» really suggests that screenshots are made with Photoshop. Longhorn interface, “on version” of Winbeta looks likes a “painted” (manually or with the skins) Windows XP interface. But as were noticed on Slashdot site forums (where “all the Internet” discuss screenshots), for early versions of new Microsoft operating system it is quite possible, that developers take the stable version of the operating system and based on it basis start to build new (step-by-step adding new components and substituting existing, including a graphic interface).

Extended task bar on all screenshots looks differently. The unique constant unit on all pictures - an analogue clocks with Longhorn emblem (by the way, it’s amusing, that it reminds GNU emblem). “My Documents” and “My Pictures” folders design looks rather doubtfully – it is hard to believe, that Microsoft designers will go to create huge graphics images explaining, which folder was open. Special doubts caused “My Computer” window - with not clear menus in the left column and indicators of free space on hard drives. There is a sensation, that here has not done without Adobe Photoshop.

In any case, it is hard to tell precisely, whether the real Windows Longhorn screenshots were published on Winbeta site or this is an artificial fake.

Nevertheless you can find Windows Longhorn screenshots (11 pieces) here (on one of the Russian web - site).

Appendix 2: “. . . Longhorn will differ considerably from existing versions of a Windows . . .“

Windows Longhorn operating system, which should come on replacement to present versions of a Windows, is called to change representations both about operating systems and about the Microsoft. Initially, Microsoft planned to make Longhorn only the next step to complete transition to .Net architecture. A final stage of the given process should become following after Longhorn the version of Windows - Blackcomb.

In his interview to “Fortune” magazine Bill Gates has marked good operation of all the Microsoft’s departments on development of today's technologies. At the same time, under the application of Bill Gates, Microsoft recently gave not enough attention to the newest technologies in the field of the software. Also Bill Gates, said, that he counts the task of Longhorn development as an extremely complex (task).

Base element of Longhorn will be hardware - software security system (known as Palladium). Palladium will observe all the user operations, making its job safe and effective. Tools for detection of virus and hacker's attacks, alongside with algorithms of struggle against all similar troubles will be built in the operating system core. "My primary objective, - speaks a Bill Gates, - consists in creation of such operating system, after the installation, user can tell only: “WOW!”.

Though, that it is known a little about the Longhorn, Bill Gates assures, that the new operating system will give the users following possibilities:

Association of documents addresses of employees, contacts - sheets of Internets - pagers and much another in the uniform database in which it will be possible to find any information for maximum short time;
“Watching the user”. If the computer owner at work, the home PC automatically re-sends him all phone calls and all the e-mail messages;
Protection against listening talks and readings of personal correspondence by “third” persons;
Conferences and on-line assemblies organization;
Simplified system of personal web pages creating;
Protected access to the important information (through the Internet);
Output of digital versions of magazines and newspapers to the monitor in similar real view.

In completion it is necessary to mark, that schedules of Microsoft on development of Windows Longhorn will demand greater time for implantation. The Microsoft has already declared that the date of operating system release transferred from the beginning of 2003 - on middle of 2004 year.

The most essential innovation that, on hearings, are going in to be implemented by Microsoft - transforming the standard file system to the relational database, supporting SQL-queries. About pluses of such solution it is known for a long time, however because of complexity of such implementation and high consumption of system resources - it has not received wide distribution. As The Register (British Internet source) informs, the file system based on relational database will be included in Blackcomb – next versions of a Windows, which will follow the Longhorn.

Significant part of hearings about changes in Longhorn interface takes the beginning from presentation which Microsoft heads was lead on “Financial Analysts Meeting“ conference. Speeches of a Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer were illustrated by video rollers on which the prototype of the new interface was embodied.

A new unit - so-called Start Panel, will occupy the left third part of Longhorn desktop. Most likely, that it will replace Start button, that invariable taking place in the bottom of the screen (from times of a Windows 95). This panel presents the clone of Task Bar (familiar to users of Microsoft Office XP). All the information, which is desirable always to have “under a hand” (irrespective of whether there it on the local PC or in the Internet) will be stored on this panel. During the last year's demonstration it was filled by MSN information (on one of the pictures you can see the report about MSN Money Central exchange quotations), however there is information, that independent developers will have an ability to create their own plug-ins.

Some changes will undergo start (Welcome) screen. Using the one home PC by several family members will be simplified. On presentation were shown frames on which to the start screen "was attached" to a daily MSN log and Outlook Notes.

Microsoft shows an interest to the P2P link technology (it use file-sharing networks and distributed calculation systems). In 2001 year Microsoft has gained a part of share (for a 51 million dollars) in Groove Networks Company, working in “P2P area”. Under the statement of some Internet sources, P2P technology support will appear to build into Longhorn operating system (into it network functions). In add-on to concept of “workgroup” the new low-level one (concept) – “subworkgroup” will be entered.

Besides that, various Internet sources inform, that Longhorn will be capable to write DVD disks just as Windows XP can write a CD disks. Video editing program (Windows Movie Maker, that appeared in Windows Me), will be “upgraded” up to the next version (2.0, probably). It is most likely, that this software program (Windows Movie Maker) will be approximate by possibilities to Microsoft Producer. At the end of this year Microsoft plans to release new version of Microsoft Media Player, and its (a little bit modified variant) after some months will be a part of Longhorn.

It is not known when Longhorn and Blackcomb will be released (it is most likely, that even Microsoft on this question may give only approximate answer). It is most likely, that Longhorn will appear in a market only through one or two years. Before this will take place, probably, one more version of Windows XP will be released (something, like Windows XP Service Pack 2).


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