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Windows 7 - Facts and rumor
The next version of Windows is dubbed "Windows 7". These are some facts and rumors I came across. Please feel free to add or correct. I'm only human.
What is MinWin?
Windows 7 will include a new kernel, but MinWin is not that kernel. MinWin is a strip down of Windows to a complete minimum to create a "clear architectural layer". It is 25megs big and runs on 40megs of memory. It actually is the core of Windows 7. The MinWin layer is part of the Windows 7 code base. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNsS_0wSfoU. Currently MinWin is referred to as "Windows 7 Core". The result. No more useless HD-activity. No more strange slowdowns in copying data. Etc...
So what is the kernel?
Well, that remains uncertain. Vista's version is "Version 6.0". The screenshots of Windows 7 builds show "Version 6.1" as the version. Not much of a 7 there. According to Eric Traut it should be Version 7.0. But maybe the early versions didn't include the new kernel, or maybe even the new core yet. We'll find out soon.
Is it Vista?
Yes it is. Windows blackcomb/longhorn (for those who still remember) was supposed to be a complete new Windows. The .NET runtime would be the core of a lot of applications. Avalon, Indigo. It al became part of the .NET Framework and was purged from the Windows project. Windows 7 is no different. Steve Ballmer said: "It's Vista, but a whole lot better".
Major differences with vista?
• No legacy User Interfaces anymore. Wordpad, Notepad and Paint get the ribbon interface instead of the file-edit-view bar. Even the UI of calculator is rewritten.
• The UAC interface will be optimized.
• Windows 7 will include multitouch. Asus is even going to release a multitouch EeePC by the end of 2009. (Woohoo!)
• Speed ups. A major feature (go figure) of Windows 7 will be that it will offer just as much (and more) as Vista, but with betters speeds and less clutter. This is still a bit "rumory", but the use of a new kernel, a Windows 7 Core and the Vista fail, we can safely say Microsoft wants to clean up a mess.
When?
Next week at the PDC, previews of Windows 7 will be released. According to softpedia, the release will be at July 2009. Sound pretty darn fast to me, but then again: maybe it's good to forget about vista and start incrementally update a system that is build with a vision and build to last. Who knows?
Final words
Be cautious with optimism. We must learn from the past. Microsoft did promise us a new world of personal computing before and Vista was the result. Gladly, Microsoft is being far more realistic about the future nowadays. http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/ is a nice blog by the Windows 7 team to keep up with their plans.
What is MinWin?
Windows 7 will include a new kernel, but MinWin is not that kernel. MinWin is a strip down of Windows to a complete minimum to create a "clear architectural layer". It is 25megs big and runs on 40megs of memory. It actually is the core of Windows 7. The MinWin layer is part of the Windows 7 code base. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNsS_0wSfoU. Currently MinWin is referred to as "Windows 7 Core". The result. No more useless HD-activity. No more strange slowdowns in copying data. Etc...
So what is the kernel?
Well, that remains uncertain. Vista's version is "Version 6.0". The screenshots of Windows 7 builds show "Version 6.1" as the version. Not much of a 7 there. According to Eric Traut it should be Version 7.0. But maybe the early versions didn't include the new kernel, or maybe even the new core yet. We'll find out soon.
Is it Vista?
Yes it is. Windows blackcomb/longhorn (for those who still remember) was supposed to be a complete new Windows. The .NET runtime would be the core of a lot of applications. Avalon, Indigo. It al became part of the .NET Framework and was purged from the Windows project. Windows 7 is no different. Steve Ballmer said: "It's Vista, but a whole lot better".
Major differences with vista?
• No legacy User Interfaces anymore. Wordpad, Notepad and Paint get the ribbon interface instead of the file-edit-view bar. Even the UI of calculator is rewritten.
• The UAC interface will be optimized.
• Windows 7 will include multitouch. Asus is even going to release a multitouch EeePC by the end of 2009. (Woohoo!)
• Speed ups. A major feature (go figure) of Windows 7 will be that it will offer just as much (and more) as Vista, but with betters speeds and less clutter. This is still a bit "rumory", but the use of a new kernel, a Windows 7 Core and the Vista fail, we can safely say Microsoft wants to clean up a mess.
When?
Next week at the PDC, previews of Windows 7 will be released. According to softpedia, the release will be at July 2009. Sound pretty darn fast to me, but then again: maybe it's good to forget about vista and start incrementally update a system that is build with a vision and build to last. Who knows?
Final words
Be cautious with optimism. We must learn from the past. Microsoft did promise us a new world of personal computing before and Vista was the result. Gladly, Microsoft is being far more realistic about the future nowadays. http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/ is a nice blog by the Windows 7 team to keep up with their plans.
 11-'08
|
TechEd 2008 Developers: An introduction |
 10-'08
|
Apple to Developers: We love you, we listen |
Comments
By
Soldaatje,
Wednesday 22 October 2008 23:24
Windows 7 is a stupid name...
Vista SE would be better.
Vista SE would be better.
By
[eNeRGy],
Thursday 23 October 2008 00:28
Flying to the PDS friday, can't wait to get my hands on this 
By
[eNeRGy],
Thursday 23 October 2008 00:28
PDC of course 
By
Adion,
Thursday 23 October 2008 01:08
I saw the video and I reread the MinWin paragraph, and I'm not sure if you meant something different or that I'm reading it wrong.
You first say that MinWin is not the new Windows 7 kernel, but then you say that it is the core of windows 7 and that minwin is a part of windows 7.
If I understand the video correctly, MinWin is basically the core of all of Microsoft's operating systems at this time, and Windows 7 will just use that, but most of the layers on top might be rewritten?
You first say that MinWin is not the new Windows 7 kernel, but then you say that it is the core of windows 7 and that minwin is a part of windows 7.
If I understand the video correctly, MinWin is basically the core of all of Microsoft's operating systems at this time, and Windows 7 will just use that, but most of the layers on top might be rewritten?
By
SoaDmaggot,
Thursday 23 October 2008 08:58
@ Adion: I am not sure what it is you do not understand. MinWin is a minimal version of the operating system, the Core, without any excessive and unnecessary layers or processes. It is a very basic, stripped down version of the OS.
As far as it is a part of Windows 7: I think that is what the team is building the extra layers etc on.
As far as it is a part of Windows 7: I think that is what the team is building the extra layers etc on.
By
Motrax,
Thursday 23 October 2008 09:00
I am so looking forward to Windows 7. Why?
1) I want to skip Vista
1) a. Performance stinks although the newest hardware is nowadays good enough to run Vista
1) b. Horrible look, horrible interface (yes skinnable), but it also the configuration screen etc
2) Getting used to a new OS while it will be outdated pretty soon is a good reason to skip it. Jumping to an OS that will last longer is a better choice.
3) I am going to buy new hardware within roughly a year, with specs that will be good. I can wait until half 2009 with that. Okay, I am optimistic when it comes to the release date
1) I want to skip Vista
1) a. Performance stinks although the newest hardware is nowadays good enough to run Vista
1) b. Horrible look, horrible interface (yes skinnable), but it also the configuration screen etc
2) Getting used to a new OS while it will be outdated pretty soon is a good reason to skip it. Jumping to an OS that will last longer is a better choice.
3) I am going to buy new hardware within roughly a year, with specs that will be good. I can wait until half 2009 with that. Okay, I am optimistic when it comes to the release date
By
Greyh0und,
Thursday 23 October 2008 09:24
@Soldaatje
And WHAT is so stupid about Windows 7?
It's the 7th Major version of Windows.
I never hear Mac users say "they should call the next version OSX SE (Sixth Edition)!"
nor did i hear people say "The next version of windows should be Windows 95 SE (instead of Win98)"
I HATE people who whine "Windows 7 is just Windows Vista SE"
And WHAT is so stupid about Windows 7?
It's the 7th Major version of Windows.
I never hear Mac users say "they should call the next version OSX SE (Sixth Edition)!"
nor did i hear people say "The next version of windows should be Windows 95 SE (instead of Win98)"
I HATE people who whine "Windows 7 is just Windows Vista SE"
By
Adion,
Thursday 23 October 2008 09:41
@SoaDmaggot
What I don't understand is:
What I don't understand is:
Windows 7 will include a new kernel, but MinWin is not that kernel
If MinWin is the core of windows 7, and windows 7 will include a new kernel, then the MinWin kernel must be the kernel used in windows 7, right?It actually is the core of Windows 7
By
mangahuisman,
Thursday 23 October 2008 10:36
This should me a major servicepack for Vista and not a new OS where we have to pay for!
They offered us Vista Beta because it was not finished an this seems to be the final build....
But now we have to pay again???
They offered us Vista Beta because it was not finished an this seems to be the final build....
But now we have to pay again???
By
Pinata,
Thursday 23 October 2008 10:44
Seriously, you don't have to pay again. You can stick with Vista for many years.
By
Palomar,
Thursday 23 October 2008 11:01
Does this mean there will be no classic theme anymore as well??No legacy User Interfaces anymore
By
Patriot,
Thursday 23 October 2008 11:33
Adion:
MinWin contains the core functionality of Windows 7. It obviously also contains the kernel of Windows 7, but it's not just the kernel.
MinWin contains the core functionality of Windows 7. It obviously also contains the kernel of Windows 7, but it's not just the kernel.
By
TD-er,
Thursday 23 October 2008 17:48
It sounds like "7" is the new fasion-label.
Next your you'll buy your Intel i7 computer along with Windows 7.
I wonder what other company will market their new product toward this "7" in the upcomming year.
Next your you'll buy your Intel i7 computer along with Windows 7.
I wonder what other company will market their new product toward this "7" in the upcomming year.
Classic theming should still be possible, just like you can you can use the .NET style interfaces in current windows versions with "classic" theming.Does this mean there will be no classic theme anymore as well??
I am really curious what windows 7 will mean for the efficiency of .NET applications in general, since it's actually part of the OS instead of smacking it on top of the rest.b
By
mOrPhie,
Friday 24 October 2008 09:09
@Adion: A kernel and a core are two different things. The kernel provides a way to interact with hardware. The core is a a system that can be booted and runs applications from within an interface. That is more than just the kernel. MinWin was build because Vista (and I quote Eric Traut) is "in a way big and bloated". This is a common software scenario when software is maintained for more than 3 years, it gets bloated and the architectural layers begin to fade. With MinWin they tried to solve that problem.
@mangahuisman: You don't have to switch. Vista is getting a new Service Pack in 2009. It'll probably be supported for the next few years. And for what it's worth: If you don't like Windows 7, then don't buy it. If you don't want to stick with Vista, but don't want to pay for another gamble again, then ditch Windows and go ubuntu or mac. There is choice, you know.
@Palomar: The classic theme is practically void in Vista already since it looks horrible.
But really, I have no idea. The vista theme and user interface guideline is a complicated story, which, to me, deserves a complete blogpost. One thing is for sure. Apps using the classic theme and not using the Vista enhancements (info-buttons, stalled progressbar, etc...) should remain functional.
@Boeboe: Can you point me to a blog or article that states that .NET will be an integrated part of Windows 7? As far as I know, this isn't confirmed, announced or even rumored, but I would like to read about it.
@mangahuisman: You don't have to switch. Vista is getting a new Service Pack in 2009. It'll probably be supported for the next few years. And for what it's worth: If you don't like Windows 7, then don't buy it. If you don't want to stick with Vista, but don't want to pay for another gamble again, then ditch Windows and go ubuntu or mac. There is choice, you know.
@Palomar: The classic theme is practically void in Vista already since it looks horrible.
But really, I have no idea. The vista theme and user interface guideline is a complicated story, which, to me, deserves a complete blogpost. One thing is for sure. Apps using the classic theme and not using the Vista enhancements (info-buttons, stalled progressbar, etc...) should remain functional.@Boeboe: Can you point me to a blog or article that states that .NET will be an integrated part of Windows 7? As far as I know, this isn't confirmed, announced or even rumored, but I would like to read about it.
I vaguely remember that I read it on the Windows 7 blog on msdn, but... I cannot find it back. Strange though.I am really curious what windows 7 will mean for the efficiency of .NET applications in general, since it's actually part of the OS instead of smacking it on top of the rest.
This is the only thing I can find back, some speculation:
http://www.sdtimes.com/content/article.aspx?ArticleID=32516
Article with speculation along the same line:
http://www.aeroxp.org/200...roducing-winfx-minus-net/
By
mOrPhie,
Friday 24 October 2008 13:54
Hmm, interesting. Tnx for the links!
By
DOT,
Monday 27 October 2008 01:45
Very little surprises here. What it boils down to is: it's Vista with a few improvements. That's what Ballmer said, and that's what every new Windows OS has been since the NT kernel. And that's the only way it could be, too. Revolution is not as sexy as it sounds. It's better to fix things that are broken, than to break things that were fixed before.
So the new features in a row:
So the new features in a row:
- New kernel. I'm guessing it will be an improved revision of the previous one.
- A few small utilities will get a menu system designed for gigantic applications.
- New UAC. This is MS code for: "we'll disable parts of it".
- Multi touch. Never mind that this already works with third party drivers on XP.
- Faster. This is an advertised feature of every MS OS, including Vista.
By
wvdburgt,
Monday 27 October 2008 12:53
Windows 7, the newest wannabe os x version available at your stores now!
By
Naatan,
Friday 31 October 2008 04:33
wvdburgt: wannabe OSX? What the fuck.. I'm sorry.. I don't hate Mac, I hate Mac fanboys..
for crying out loud, get a hobby and stop putting that god damn OS on a pedestal.
Thank you
for crying out loud, get a hobby and stop putting that god damn OS on a pedestal.
Thank you