Microsoft's Project Midori May Be The Replacement For Windows

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Microsoft's Project Midori May Be The Replacement [news.bbc.co.uk] For Windows

Microsoft has kicked off a research project to create software that will take over when it retires Windows.

Called Midori, the cut-down operating system is radically different to Microsoft's older programs.

It is centred on the internet and does away with the dependencies that tie Windows to a single PC.

It is seen as Microsoft's answer to rivals' use of "virtualisation" as a way to solve many of the problems of modern-day computing.

[kaled]

If virtualisation (of hardware) is the way forward, then a virtual hardware standard needs to emerge. If that were then supported at bios level (or some intermediate low-level) the need for different device drivers would effectively vanish. This would make operating system development very much easier.

I have not heard of any effort to create a virtual hardware standard, and since Microsoft don't seem to be talking about it either, I suspect a significant move in this direction is some way off yet, certainly five years and probably ten.

Assuming there are no more debacles like Vista, I think Windows will survive for the foreseeable future. It is interesting to note that Midori is supposed to be lightweight whilst MS have stated that Windows 7 will be based on Vista not XP. No one could ever accuse Microsoft of being consistent!

Kaled.