Windows 7: Rumors and Demos
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It's not due out until January 2010, but Microsoft's next release of its operating system – codenamed Windows 7 – is already inspiring speculation. Will it be as painful to use as Vista, or will it fix Vista's issues? Rumors abound, encouraged by Microsoft's fairly close-mouthed stance. Here's what we've learned.
If you're really intrigued, you can Google Windows 7 and find a lot of information. There's a web site apparently unaffiliated with Microsoft but dedicated to Windows 7 news, at least one blog that purports to be by someone on the team creating Windows 7, some (supposedly fake) videos on YouTube of milestone builds of Windows 7, and more. But how do you tell the real from the fake?
When possible, you go to official sources. Steven Sinofsky, who has been leading the development of Windows 7 since Jim Allchin left Microsoft, gave a lengthy interview to CNet. It's hard to find anything official on Windows 7 on Microsoft's web site, though; a search on Windows 7 there is far more likely to turn up information on Internet Explorer, but the company's Windows Vista news blog, written by Chris Flores, turned up some minor hints.
Then there's Dev Corvin, who was a Microsoft Evangelist and conceptual artist during the “codename Longhorn” development at Microsoft, and who apparently still has some sources at the company. Most recently, there's the demo that Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer gave at the D6 Conference. Stir in a few analysts, and we might get some idea of what we'll see in a little over a year and a half (if Windows 7 releases on time).
Microsoft is being careful with what gets out about Windows 7 in part to manage expectations. According to Sinofsky, “we're really going to focus on making sure that when we talk about the product, that [Windows enthusiasts are] getting information that is really what we're doing for the product.” A number of analysts have thought that part of the reason Microsoft isn't seeing the speedy uptake with Vista that it has seen with other operating systems is that user expectations were high, and then word got out that Vista wasn't delivering on those expectations.
So what can you expect from Windows 7? Will it be an incremental improvement, or a whole new paradigm? Click on the link below.
Next: Meet the New OS... >>
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