Microsoft looks beyond Vista, sees Vienna

[slaughterbeck]

Although Microsoft is hard at work trying to ship Windows Vista this year, the company is beginning to set its sights on the next horizon, Vienna.

Vienna, once labeled Blackcomb, is the new code name for the successor to Vista. It is not clear when Vienna might ship or what features it might contain. Microsoft confirmed the name change on Friday, but declined to comment on Vienna's stage of development.

"The 'Blackcomb' code name has been changed to 'Vienna,' but we do not have any other details to share on timing or focus," Microsoft said in a statement to CNET News.com. "This does not reflect a big change for us; we have used city code names in the past, which are derived from cities/locations in the world known for great 'vistas'--the kinds of places we all want to see, experience and that capture the imagination. Vienna fits with this concept."

The code name for Windows XP was Whistler, a Canadian ski resort. Blackcomb was also a ski resort, while Longhorn (Vista's code name) came from the Longhorn Saloon, which was about halfway between Whistler and Blackcomb.

Microsoft evangelist Robert Scoble first confirmed the new code name in a posting to the company's Channel 9 developer site.

Directions on Microsoft analyst Michael Cherry said that Microsoft is looking to speed up the frequency of its Windows releases, but cautioned not to read too much into the name change.

"It's just a morale thing," Cherry said. "The other names have been kicking around so long. It's much more about trying to keep focused and keep some excitement around where they are going."

As for Vista, Microsoft is slated to ship it in the second half of this year, roughly five years after it shipped Windows XP. The Vista update promises to have better search, a new graphics engine and other improved features.

However, there are several features that were pulled out of Vista that could conceivably become part of Vienna, most notably a new file storing mechanism known as WinFS.

Com.com

 

[sm]

I'll put it as "Stress Relief". Dreaming into the future releases stress when the going is tough Vienna is the stress reliever for Microsoft execs at the moment

 

[brianmn]

How can they already be working on a successor to a version of windows that hasn't even been released yet?

That shows how they want to focus only on making as much money as possible, and not on customers. I think 5 years is a good time span on releasing versions of windows. It doesn't make you think that you just got windows and then a new one comes out a year later and you have to then pay another $200 for an upgrade.

 

[Cheyne]

Of course they want to make as much money as possible. So does Google. So does Yahoo! They are a corperation.

 

[slaughterbeck]

How can they already be working on a successor to a version of windows that hasn't even been released yet?

Hmm...Just how to you think major corporations prepare for the future?

 

[holeinone]

Hurry poeple viennaos.com is available!

They have to, after all the flak they got for win2000

 

[JMJ]

I still use Win2k pro on my main computer. My laptop has XP but I rarely ever use it. I'll probably give my current to my son and upgrade to XP around the time Vista rolls out. I like to stay behind the current release. Usually all of the bugs are fixed by then.

 

[MichaelV.]

im looking forward to vista, i just hope they are finished with it before starting the next.... like that will happen though

 

[slaughterbeck]

im looking forward to vista, i just hope they are finished with it before starting the next.... like that will happen though

They were working on the basic layout for Longhorn “Vista” before they finished XP, that’s just the way it works.

 

[Ringr]

Do you guys think the 'Vienna' name is here to stay, or do you think they'll change it again?

 

[staskul]

Vienna will be made in 2008 year maybe...

 

[Host47]

The name is bound to change, have they ever kept the orignal name?

 

[slaughterbeck]

Do you guys think the 'Vienna' name is here to stay, or do you think they'll change it again?

Vienna will get a new name just as Longhorn did and that will probably be in 2009.

 

[primacomputer]

It's nice to see Microsoft is getting back in stride and making plans to ram yet another bloated “upgrade” down out throats even before they get a chance top shove the next bloated upgrade down out throats

 

[slaughterbeck]

It's nice to see Microsoft is getting back in stride and making plans to ram yet another bloated “upgrade” down out throats even before they get a chance top shove the next bloated upgrade down out throats

It’s just the status quo?