Here's our 60 second guide, and a wishlist for Microsoft's new baby.
- Vista replacement, first codenamed Blackcomb
- Virtualisation, "pie" menu, WinFS on table
- Will retain Windows NT underpinnings
From its original designation of Blackcomb and then Vienna, the internal codename for Steve Sinofsky’s first major Windows project is now generally referred to as Windows 7.
It was initially thought that Windows 7 would be a fundamental rewrite, much as Longhorn was originally intended: 64-bit only, with a major interface redesign and a break in compatibility with previous versions; akin to the transition between Apple Mac OS 9 and X.
Radical interface improvements are being considered, including a new Explorer core, pie-style menu and the death of the Start button, all overseen by Office 2007’s design guru, Jensen Harris.
Some form of Hypervisor Windows virtualisation is likely, and we should also see some of the technologies developed during WinFS finally making their way into Windows. However, the underlying mechanics will ultimately derive from the teetering NT codebase. Windows 7 is planned for release in 2010, in a bid to tighten the schedule after the long delays that affected Vista.
Will it be enough? Only if Microsoft manages to hit its deadline and continues to listen to its users. For a head start, Jon Honeyball provides his wishlist on the next page.
Next page - our Windows 7 wishlist (click below)...