Preview: Microsoft's Windows Longhorn: "Disclaimer: This is a preview based on a very early release of Microsoft's next-generation operating system. It lacks the modern user interface elements that will be in the final version. Given that the code is far from final and may contain many debug elements, the system's performance will likely improve in subsequent releases. Any statements we make about perceived performance may not apply to the final version, and any feature discussed here may also change before Longhorn's final release in 2006. "

Longhorn is the codename for the next-generation version of Microsoft's flagship Windows operating system. It's also the company's most ambitious project since the first Windows NT release. An impressive array of new technologies will be built into the new OS -- a few of which were included in the pre-release version we checked out.

Due to its ambitious nature, Longhorn has had its release pushed out to sometime in 2006. Because of this, Microsoft has committed to a second service pack release for Windows XP, which may add a few Longhorn elements – particularly in the realm of security.

Some of the key features of Longhorn include:


Improved security -- through it's NGSCB initiative

WinFS, a new file system based around relational database technology (NTFS will still be available)

New user interface technologies based on DirectX rather than the aging GDI interface. Every window in the release version will be a 32-bit, z-buffered, 3D surface.

A new presentation and UI design subsystem, codenamed "Avalon," based around XAML (Extensible Application Markup Language).

A new communications architecture, codenamed "Indigo," that's an enhanced and integrated version of Microsoft's .NET framework.

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