What we just learned about Windows 7

For those who want the full interview with Windows engineering head Steven Sinofsky, I've posted a nearly complete transcript. For those who want the abridged version, along with some quick analysis, keep reading.

So what exactly did Steven Sinofsky reveal about Windows 7. I'd boil it down to three things:

1. Timing

Despite what Bill Gates said in Miami, Windows 7 is timed to come out by the end of January 2010, not "in the next year or so." Here's what Sinofsky, Windows engineering head, had to say on the matter.

"The timing of it depends a lot on what we wanted to achieve, and you've certainly heard us, and we've been very clear, and will continue to say that the next release of Windows, Windows 7, is about three years after the general availability of Windows Vista, and we're committed to that, and we've signed up publicly to do that," he said in our interview.

2. Kernel

Windows 7 is an evolutionary improvement to the kernel in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, not a wholly new MinWin kernel that has been under development.

"We're very clear that drivers and software that work on Windows Vista are going to work really well on Windows 7; in fact, they'll work the same," Sinofsky said. "We're going to not introduce additional compatibilities, particularly in the driver model. Windows Vista was about improving those things. We are going to build on the success and the strength of the Windows Server 2008 kernel, and that has all of this work that you've been talking about. The key there is that the kernel in Windows Server '08 is an evolution of the kernel in Windows Vista, and then Windows 7 will be a further evolution of that kernel as well."

3. Features

OK. we didn't learn a lot here. As Microsoft had previously indicated, Windows 7 will be available in 32-bit and 64-bit flavors. Sinofsky did suggest that Windows 7 will build on the architectural changes in Vista, suggesting that many of the changes may be the kind of features that are available out of the box, as opposed the kind that take years as developers build them into their products.

"There will be a lot of features in Windows 7," Sinofsky said. "It's a major release. I talked about the kernel and driver compatibility and (application) compatibility, but there is a lot more for us to talk about. We'll certainly be in touch."

The other thing that Sinofsky talked about at length is his approach to revealing information. He explained why things have been so quiet and (my read here) why we will continue to hear less about Windows 7 early on than we did about Vista or Windows XP.

Microsoft clearly feels it was burned with saying too much about "Longhorn" early on in development. It's not just the bad press, Sinofsky said. By announcing plans and then changing them, he said that developers just decided to wait until Vista finally shipped to start taking it seriously. That's a bad thing, particularly when many of Vista's changes were the under-the-hood kind that required developer support to make them pay off.

That's not to say we won't hear anything until it hits the beta stage. In fact, from what I understand, we might hear a little bit more as soon as Tuesday night, when Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer speak at the D: All Things Digital conference in Carlsbad, Calif.

Click here for full coverage of the D: All Things Digital conference.

[Zaunto]

With Windows Vista not being as popular as Microsoft would like to believe, it would be a bad idea to even begin discussing the next version of Windows when quite a number of people are still using Windows XP.

[toddvj]

Actually, I think a lot of people are going to wait until the next version of Windows before they upgrade from XP.

[yacahuma]

What windows 7 should be. Start with windows xp(not windows vista). Add better support for multi-core chips. Rewrite IO (IO is always been slow in windows). Buy revo uninstaller and add it to windows. Spend time just trying to make XP as fast as possible. Rewrite the task manager so I can see every single thing that is running, every single port that is opened. If I see an hour glass , I want to know what program is causing it. Improve security. And thats it. If they can do this, I will buy their next OS. Otherwise, it will join Vista and the end of my trash can. Can I sell my Windows Vista Key???

[nschlip]

I completly agree with yacahuma. Windows XP is a very stable OS; if only Microsoft would improve upon it with the obivious features that yacahuma pointed out, the Windows world would be much better off. Even then, Microsoft could charge $200 for an upgrade license to the newest version of "SUPER XP" and I would pay it; I'm sure a lot of others would too..

[bobcode]

Considering the reception of Vista, seems it'd be better to start with MinWin than continuing Vista.

[getwired]

Minwin is not what you think it is.

[thedreaming]

You got people that haven't upgraded from windows 2000 and they are in no hurry to upgrade to anything else. Not xp, not vista and certainly not windows 7.

[WhooTAZ]

I think MS needs to limit the number of flavors of WINDOWS 7 and they need to figure a way to make 32 bit and 64 bit to work as one OS. People are getting Screwed over with the if they buy a laptop and find out it has 64 Bit Vista installed. Who in the hell in there right mind is loading 64 Bit on laptops that you pick up at BestBuy or Circuit City? The end user finds out to late and they go thru trials and tribulation to make the damn laptop work with their software.

Hmmmm, I envision MS will pull a fast one again and come out with 10 flavors of a 32 bit and 12 flavors of the 64 bit. 1 version will be totally dedicated to having the OS ask you if you must have your rear wiped after doing your buisness in the bathroom....

[jture]

The best thing they could do for Windows 7 is offer it in one-size-fits-all. No more of this Basic/Premium/Office cr*p.

That being said, sorry Microsoft, the next time I buy a computer it will be a Mac.

[jc364]

My biggest gripe with Windows Vista is that added very few new features, and everything about the Operating System ran twice as slow as XP. Is Microsoft going to continue this trend? I have better places to spend my system resources than the Operating System.

[JCPayne]

HA.... How much money do they want to charge people just so they can have see-through windows?????

Everyone knows---- you NEVER rush out to buy a new version of M$ Windows.... You should always wait until SP2 or SP3.... AT LEAST....

[Mr. Dee]

@ bobcode

MinWin is not the answer, that is more focused on Embedded devices like Set Top boxes, Pocket PC's and other small devices that do not need the full functionality of he Windows Kernel. Building Windows 7 on the solid foundation of Windows Server 2008 SP1 means reassurance to customers who have invested heavily in Windows Vista can have the confidence to deploy their existing infrastructure on Windows 7 when its released. This means existing hardware and applications will work on Windows 7 without any alteration. Windows 7 will use the same driver framework as Windows Vista.

[whizkid454]

I think a release AFTER, yes AFTER, the Christmas season is a good move for Microsoft. Sure, they miss the 2009 Christmas season, BUT, once it comes out, there will be some issues that need to be worked out. As the year progresses, those will be worked out. By then, most people will probably like it and will be more willing to actually buy them during the Christmas season of 2010. A crappy start like Vista's wouldn't make much good publicity right at the beginning of the shopping season. I'd say for MS to wait until 1st quarter 2010.

[Mr. Dee]

Well, its not the release date that determines if Windows 7 is a success. As Ina noted, Windows 7 is expected to be generally available in January 2010, Windows Vista was generally available in January 2007. What made Vista such a difficult upgrade for many was the changes in compatibility for both hardware and software. The changes to Longhorn over its 5 year development cycle as Steven noted also affected its perception by IHVs and ISVs. Instead of getting the hard work done during 15 months of development on Vista, they actually waited until the product RTMed. Microsoft wants to prevent and we can see some early fruits from their work, nVidia is already looking for a QA manager to test their video card drivers on Windows 7.

[whizkid454]

I agree. As long as they can start out on a good note, it should be smooth sailing. Who knows, maybe the new lockdown idea will be successful?

"Underpromise, overdeliver." -Mary Jo Foley

[sanjayb]

Three things for Windows 7.
1. Screw the 32 bit version. We should be leaving the 32 bit world for once and for all.
2. Sell only one version. I am tired of all these multiple version crap.
3. Package Windows 7 with only the core basic OS features. Then allow customers to add on other components via Windows update. That way people can customize Windows with only the stuff they need and you force Windows to be broken into modular components.

[nnoedd]

Windows Vista today is what Windows ME was 9 years ago before Windows 2000 came out, and for those of you who don't know too much about ME, it was a disaster! Windows ME tried to combine Windows 98 easy user interface with Windows 2000 reliability, but it didn't do a good job. Vista is trying to use Windows XP's operability somewhat with the reliability that Windows 7 is going to provide. This is why we're gettign these service packs for Vista, which are all attempts to improve on what will eventually be a Windows 7 product. My advice is to continue using XP for the next 2-3 years, and you will be impressed with the performance of Windows 7. Don't worry guys. Windows 7 will be what XP is today, a solid and reliable operating system.