Recently I read a review on Windows Longhorn by : Vishal (https://mouthshut.com/readreview/41209.html).
He has done a commendable job but I want to write a more comprehensive review on Longhorn ( as Operating Systems is one
of my favorite field of interest ). So here I am with a review on Windows Longhorn.
Is Windows Longhorn just a visually pleasant upgrade of Win XP ? (Like WinXp for 2000 ?)
Definitely NO !!! Longhorn was first announced in JULY 2001 as a minor Windows upgrade which would precede Blackcomb.
As time rolled by,it became clear that Longhorn would be a much larger project. Infact ,
LongHorn is not just a new Operating System (Big Misconception !!) from Microsoft, Longhorn is the codename for a major
wave of technology and platform software from Microsoft. This generation of software will include new versions
of Windows Operating System, Windows Server, Famous .NET, and Omnipresent Microsoft Office. Like Windows XP,
Windows Longhorn will ship with Home Edition,
Professional Edition, Tablet PC Edition, Media Center Edition, 64-bit, and other versions.
NOTE : Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows CE and Windows NT are 32-bit operating systems and recently (23 Sept 2003) Microsoft Corp. announced the beta availability of a native 64-bit version of its Windows XP operating system designed to support 64-Bit Extended Systems.
What is so Special about this ''Longhorn'' ??
- The first important to learn about Longhorn is its FILE SYSTEM. ( File System is the way a user of application may access files.Its an important part of operating system). With growing need of larger Hard Disk Spaces , file systems are continuously changing.
FAT systems were never designed to cope with several hundred MB of data on disks of 200 GB.
Windows Longhorn will feature a new database file system known as Windows Future Storage (WinFS). WinFS will be built on top of the NTFS file system-WinFS is not a replacement for NTFS, as NTFS is required for WinFS to work. WinFS, a technology which Microsoft has wanted to implement in Windows for over a decade, will allow users to more efficiently locate and work with information regardless of format or location.
NOTE : Many people think that WinFS is a totally new FILE SYSTEM. Think of WinFS as pulling together relational database technology, XML database technology, and file streaming that a file system has. Its actually based on NTFS.
2. Are there new visual styles in Windows Longhorn?
Yes !!
* Windows XP includes a ''Luna'' visual style which is available in three colors: Blue, Silver, and Olive Green.
Longhorn's Visual style is called ''Aero'' and is based on a new .NET-based API called ''Avalon.'' (Revealed in Aug 2003)
* The Longhorn Start Menu and task bar will be enhanced with a new Sidebar component that can optionally appear locked to one side of the desktop.
* All system folders (My Documents, My Pictures, etc.) feature a search pane, folder comments, file information and filters
* Visual effects of Longhorn are out of the World. Examples of visual effects that will be enabled in Windows Longhorn include:
Windows tumbling onto the screen.
Rotating windows.
Warped windows.
Alpha blending between windows.
Put in simple words Longhorn is definitely going to give an enhanced desktop experience that includes advanced 3D graphics capabilities and driver functionality.
(NOTE : for the screen shots please visit https://winsupersite.com/reviews/longhorn_alpha.asp)
3. Security ( Major concern for Microsoft Corp. )
Security has always been a major Microsoft concern whether its 2000 or XP. With Longhorn they want to shut mouth of
all their competitors. They are using a new Technology called as ''Palladium''.
Salient Features of Palladium :
* Doesn't interfere with the normal operation of the PC
* Require special hardware ( which will be made by Intel and AMD)
* Protect user from privacy invasion, outside hacking, spam etc. ( A major user concern )
Longhorn will include new anti-virus (AV) APIs that will help developers more easily integrate their wares into the base OS
4. Superb Multimedia Support :
* Longhorn makes the screen more photorealistic and deep by using 3d video hardware. In Longhorn, hardware acceleration will be added to the base OS, through a Direct3D-based rendering system.
DVD BURNINGLonghorn will expand on Windows XP's support for DVD-RAM and offer shell-based DVD burning capabilities similar to XP's CD burning features. It will also include DVD movie making capabilities. It will have support for DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW.
* Windows Movie Maker 2 - Windows Movie Maker (WMM) is being rearchitected from the ground up to support a much wider range of features, including multiple audio and video tracks, multiple video transition types, and other features
* A My TV application that appears to derive from Windows XP Media Center Edition's personal video recorder capabilities.
* Windows Media Player is embedded transparently into the entire OS .
* Creates photo albums and digital photo slide shows without opening a separate app
NOTE : Many people think that LONGHORN is going to use a completely new graphics engine. But the truth is that LONGHORN
will feature GDI+ 2.0 ( Graphics device Interface) a successor to the GDI + 1.0 pioneered by Windows XP.
5. Lightning Fast Installation
Microsoft has included new Set Up routines for Lightning fast installation for its new OS.
They Claim these routines can set up the OS in about 15 minutes (WinXP roughly takes 45-60 mins. )
Installation uses the new, graphical Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE).
6. Any Improvement in Stability ?
Yes !!!
* WinFS file system is very robust and stable.
* Previous version of windows allowed users to use non-signed drivers thereby enhancing compatibility at the cost of stability.But in Longhorn, users hoping to take advantage of the system's exciting new capabilities will only be able to use signed drivers. (Though it may look like a serious shortcoming for compatibilty but it improves stability a lot )
* To achieve this enhanced desktop experience, a new Windows Longhorn Display Driver model has been designed to radically advance functionality, stability, and reliability.
7. Current Status of Windows Longhorn and when is it releasing ?
Current Status : Longhorn Alpha Preview 3: Build 4015
Release ??
Longhorn Beta 1: Expected early 2004
Longhorn Beta 2: Expected late 2004
Longhorn final release: Expected 2005
(We need to wait a lot to see Final Release of Longhorn in action .......)
8. Can I see Longhorn in action ??
Sure ....
For Screenshots visit : (https://winsupersite.com/reviews/longhorn_alpha.asp)
For Videos Vist : https://extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,1154262,00.asp ( A MUST see ..)
I Hope you enjoyed this review.
Please rate and comment it.
