Windows Vista Update

It’s been known for some time that the next edition of Windows – codename Windows 7 – is scheduled for release sometime in 2010. But now more details are coming out about the new system and surprisingly it could actually as a boost for Windows Vista.

Microsoft demonstrated some of the Windows 7 technology at a conference in San Diego this week. Though the company only showed off one ‘new’ feature -- Windows 7 will be particularly compatible with touch-screen technology such as that used on the iPhone – they’ve released more information.

The key detail is that Windows 7 will use the same kernel as Vista. The kernel is effectively the brain of an operating system, serving as the main go-between of the software and hardware.

The kernel makes all the important decisions such as deciding which program the computer processes information from at any particular instance. It also manages the memory and the input and output devices such as the keyboard, mouse, monitor and printer.

This means that, whereas Vista had a brand new kernel from XP, Windows 7 will be a lot more similar to Vista than expected. It seems unlikely that there will be as many new features as were introduced with Vista. It’ll probably be a case of evolution rather than revolution.

These developments could mean an increase in sales to Vista skeptics. Between the genuine problems and teething troubles, and the harsh media criticism, many potential buyers appear to have decided to skip Vista altogether and wait for Windows 7.

As word gets around that Windows 7 may not be all that different, some people may rethink that idea.

The company may also have realised many computer users are becoming very cynical about new editions of Windows coming out so regularly. After all, while Windows 98 and XP both came out just three years after their predecessors, there was a six-year gap between XP and Vista.

Microsoft could be going for a policy of a major change every six years, with a minor revamp half-way through that period (XP Service Pack 2 in 2004, Windows 7 in 2010).

Microsoft has also said it is designing Windows 7 to run on any machine that runs Vista and be compatible with all the same hardware such as printers. That means anyone who was thinking about waiting for Windows 7 and didn’t want to risk buying a new machine just for Vista may decide to splash out now.

Of course, Microsoft may be deliberately trying to avoid over-hyping Windows 7 now. Partly this is to avoid it appearing as a disappointment when it does come out, but partly it could be to avoid overshadowing a product that’s already on the shelves.

Writing in a company blog, Microsoft’s Chris Flores said the firm has intentionally changed the way it’s giving out information about Windows 7: rather than make every detail public, it’s restricting most details to those people who need to know now, such as third-party hardware and software manufacturers.

So even if Microsoft does have some highly marketable features up its sleeve for Windows 7, it realises there’s no point making Vista seem second-best at the moment.

John Lister is a freelance writer from Manchester, England. After graduating from a professionally-accredited journalism degree course in 1998, he spent six years running the press office for Plain English Campaign, a pressure group working to make public information clearer. He now works full-time writing articles and producing summaries of newspaper reports.

His technology-writing experience includes daily articles for the Infopackets technology newsletter. His other specialties include the professional wrestling industry, about which he has written two books.

Check out some more of his work at www.johnlisterwriting.com

John Lister's Articles

Friday May 29th 2008: Windows 7: Lucky For Vista?

Friday May 22nd 2008: Microsoft Pushing Vista's Green Appeal

Friday May 15th 2008: Microsoft having a tough time in British schools

Friday May 9th 2008: Vista Perception vs. Reality

Friday May 2nd 2008: Windows Vista SP1

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