What Vista? Windows 7 waits in the wings

Even before the euphoria regarding the most revolutionary operating system from Microsoft stable post Windows 95, the Windows Vista, could settle down, the software giant has made known its plans to come up with a fundamentally different OS named Windows 7 sometime in 2009-10. There is little doubt over the fact that Windows Vista has put the Windows platform on a different pedastal, especially in terms of looks, security and speed. However, a lot of people are still not sure if they want to upgrade their Windows XP based systems to Windows Vista. Now, with plans regarding Windows 7 (earlier nicknamed 'Blackcomb' and 'Vienna') out in the open, there is a fair chance of some XP/2000 users holding back their decision to upgrade. 

Multi-cores, Virtualisation and IPV 6

Windows Vista was a major release. However, Windows 7 would in fact be a new generation operating system designed to work seamlessly with the emerging technologies such as multi core processors and IPV6, and would be available in 64 and 32 bit versions. Even though Windows Vista too has capabilities to work with multi-core processors (It can work with upto 4 processors), Windows 7 would keep pace with the chipmakers who are now experimenting with processors in the range of 80 and 96! (IBM has already tested an 80 core processor and another company has gone ahead with 96 processors). 

Thoguh much information is not available from Microsoft regarding the new OS for obvious reasons, at least one Microsoft official has confirmed that Windows 7 will take advantage of multicore processors. During a panel discussion, Ty Carlson of Microsoft said, "You are going to see in access of 8, 16, 64 and beyond processors on your client computer. Intel and AMD have confirmed they have plans beyond eight cores. Present day operating systems are not specially designed to take advantage of the mammoth computing power such multi-cores provide. With Windows 7 such limitations could end.

Expect a new IE

Indications regarding other possible capabilities of the future OS are coming in bits and pieces. It will have strong support for Virtualisation, a technology that has already become hugely popular. It is heard the OS will come bundled with a new Internet Explorer version, which again could be very different from the likes of IE 7. It is said that the browser is being designed by the same team that designed new Office 2007 interface. Windows 7 will be very friendly with the concept of a mobile workforce with revolutionary collaboration and communication channels. 

The big question, however, is: Will Windows 7 be the beginning of the phase of subscription based operating systems? Will anyone answer?

- Balendu Sharma Dadhich