Print - Microsoft Reveals Some Longhorn Features

Just a little more than a week before the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2005, Microsoft Group Vice President Jim Allchin has decided to reveal some information about Longhorn, the next-generation Windows version that has suffered from innumerable delays. Now due in mid-2006, Longhorn will be a major Windows version, not a minor update, Allchin says. "So forget the naysayers," he adds, "Longhorn is going to rock."

Any update about Longhorn is much appreciated. Microsoft first began touting its next-generation OS at the Professional Developers Conference (PDC) in October 2003, making broad-reaching claims about the system's capabilities. Since then, the company has been mostly quiet, aside from a few announcements about delaying the product and stripping away what were previously described as key features.

Have no fears about Longhorn being a minor update, Allchin said this week. "[Longhorn] is not incremental," he said. "The world, in my opinion, thinks this is perhaps the next version of a service pack. It's not. It's a very big deal. There will be massive marketing. The point here is this is a big deal. [Windows] XP SP2 was a big deal, but this is a really big deal. We will put a lot of money and marketing emphasis behind this and work with our partners to make sure there's a lot of opportunity for them."

Allchin discussed the following Longhorn features:

- Instant Desktop Search. Longhorn's search feature is called Visualize and Organize and will still be included despite the removal of WinFS from the system. Instant Desktop Search will include the virtual folders functionality that Microsoft first showed at PDC 2003.

- SyncManager. "We'll have a SyncManager in Longhorn to simplify the sync process for phones and other machines. It's [not ActiveSync, the PocketPC tool,] but a new version of synchronization, a brand new system being done for Longhorn that will have a whole set of wireless support so it can run more seamlessly between work and home and understands the environment."

- Security. "[Longhorn] will be safe and secure. Safety means you help users to protect themselves: Parental controls, deciding who you can talk to and what time, being able to browse the Internet in a protected window. Those are all areas we're focusing on." Allchin also touched on Longhhorn's user privilege-level features. "Longhorn will run [all users] as standard users, instead of [administrative users]. Today, in most installs, a large majority run as admin, so everything on the machine has full rights. Longhorn will run as a standard user, with limited user rights that can't impact the operating system or the user."

- Mobility features. Longhorn will feature whole-volume encryption so that a lost or stolen PC won't cough up your data to thieves. And Longhorn-era laptops and Tablet PCs will feature auxiliary displays through which users can view calendar and email information on a small LCD screen, even when the device is shut down.

- Easy deployment. "It must be easy to deploy at home, either adding a new machine to an environment at home, or replacing a machine and migrating information from one machine to another, or at work where an IT professional is trying to deploy images or to manage systems that are in place."

- Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE). Longhorn will include an IE version that's much more advanced than the IE 7.0 product the company will ship for XP users later this year. The new version of IE will integrate with Longhorn's parental controls and security and isolation features.

- Antispyware. Longhorn will include antispyware technology but not antivirus technology, Allchin says.

Allchin also discussed the Longhorn roadmap. As previously reported, Microsoft will ship a pre-Beta 1 build of Longhorn to attendees of the WinHEC 2005 trade show that will take place the last week of April in Seattle. That preview won't include the new Aero UI, but the UI will be dramatically improved from the alpha releases the company previously shipped. Allchin noted that Microsoft will ship a beta release after PDC 2005, which will be held this September in Los Angeles. According to the most recent schedule I've seen, Longhorn Beta 1 is still due in late May 2005, while Longhorn Beta 2 is due in October 2005, right after PDC. So it's unclear whether Allchin's comments represent another delay for Beta 1.

However. Allchin did hint at something that I reported about previously. Although Microsoft plans to finalize Longhorn by May 2006, I've heard that the company might delay the release until late 2006 to coincide with the release of Microsoft Office 12. "We're still on track for shipping [Longhorn] by holiday 2006, so we'll be done before then," he said this week. For Microsoft, the holiday season starts in September, so presumably, Longhorn would be widely available by August or September 2006. We'll see.

I've already written about most of these features on the SuperSite for Windows. I'll update my most recent showcase, "The Road to Windows Longhorn 2005," later today with new information and some prototype screenshots.

sounds fantastic, but it has ways to go. I hope it won't come with a price increase.

"Cue the Mac faithful....." ...what is that supposed to mean? Anyway, I am just worried that the user interface for Longhorn will be flashier then Windows XP, but not neccessarily better or easier to use for the person in front of the screen. I guess we will see when it comes out.

why commenting when we have all that released in a few weeks time rather then late 2006. We're happing with it now, you're happy in a years time, everyones happy

"we have all that released in a few weeks time" I knew I wouldn't have to wait long :)

omg, internet explorer 7. I'm shaking in my boots. Longhorn will be safe and secure? Didn't I get 8 security patches yesterday? It won't be unless they stop using legacy code, which is unlikely.

"However. Allchin did hint at something I reported about previously." You fat gready pig american, your such a fat t_wat, always I I I, me me me, you nob.

"Mac fans, where are you??? I need to laugh today." *sigh* Normally, I'd swim right past that bait, but I'm feeling ambitious. So here goes: "Instant Desktop Search." OS X Tiger has it. Check out http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/spotlight/ "SyncManager." Once again, Microsoft's late to the game, but welcome to the party! I couldn't work without iSync from Apple. Seriously. See http://www.mac.com/1/isync.html Security. "[Longhorn] will be safe and secure." You mean...like using a Mac? Do I REALLY need to say anything more here? "Parental controls" (like in the new Safari), "Allchin also touched on the user privilege level features in Longhorn. "Longhorn will run [all users] as standard users, instead of [administrative users]. Today in most installs, a large majority run as admin, so everything on the machine has full rights. Longhorn will run as a standard user, with limited user rights that can't impact the operating system or the user." Huh. Like on my Mac. Interesting. "Mobility features. Longhorn will feature "whole-volume" encryption so that a lost or stolen PC won't cough up your data to thieves." Got it. Now. On my Mac. "And Longhorn-era laptops and Tablet PCs will feature auxiliary displays through which users can view calendar and email information on a small LCD screen even when the device is shut down." If the Tablet PC ever starts selling, that'll be nice. Seriously. Of course it doesn't do anything with existing hardware, but since you'll probably need to toss your existing Laptop or Tablet to run Longhorn, I guess it's a good thing. Easy deployment. "It must be easy to deploy at home, either adding a new machine to an environment at home or replacing a machine and migrating information from one machine to another or at work where an IT professional is trying to deploy images or to manage systems that are in place." Nice. That's built-in to the Mac, too. In the words of Paul Thurrott, "Apple also supports an interesting option called Archive and Install, which basically performs a clean install but retains the user settings from the previous install, which is quite handy." Mac upgrades are simple, too, since the Mac includes a tool to easily move applications and user settings from one machine to another. Sweet. "Internet Explorer. Longhorn will include a version of IE that is much more advanced than the IE 7 product the company will ship for XP users later this year." Again, I quote Thurrott: "Overall, I've always been a big fan of Safari, and I'd use it rather than Firefox or IE if it were available on Windows. It's an excellent application." "Longhorn will include antispyware technology, but not antivirus, Allchin says." LOL...Do I REALLY need to comment on this? Add the cost of an antivirus solution to your Longhorn purchase, boys and girls. Guaranteed--you'll need it. So that's it? "Longhorn will be a major Windows version?" "Longhorn is going to rock."? LOL...Honest to God, you Windows fanboys are a pathetic lot.

""SyncManager." Once again, Microsoft's late to the game, but welcome to the party! I couldn't work without iSync from Apple. Seriously." Wrong. Microsoft had it. It's just better in Longhorn. ""Instant Desktop Search." OS X Tiger has it. Check out http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/spotlight/" PC users don't have to wait. Use google,msn, or yahoo desktop search. (Security) "Huh. Like on my Mac. Interesting. " Macs have security by obscurity. You need real security when 99% of earth uses your OS. (Deployment) "Nice. That's built-in to the Mac, too." Not to 1000's of machines in an organization. But you really don't need that for the Mac anyway. ""Longhorn will include antispyware technology, but not antivirus, Allchin says." LOL...Do I REALLY need to comment on this?" Yes. People need to make up their mind. Do you let microsoft include useful features or do you cry "monopoly!" "So that's it? "Longhorn will be a major Windows version?" For developers, it will be heaven. They have so much cool stuff to play with I can't wait. Productivity will increase tremendously. Enjoy your 3 applications you have for the Mac.

Wrong. Microsoft had it. It's just better in Longhorn. Well, if you read the article, you would have noted "a brand new system being done for Longhorn". In order for something to be better, it must have already existed, which it did not. PC users don't have to wait. Use google,msn, or yahoo desktop search. The indexing tools that the web-based desktop search product offer is not that robust. They are limited in the arrtibutes that you can query by. Longhorn will most likely graft the technology from Lookout, which they recently bought, and be extended by WinFS once (if) it is released. If you could stop blindly defending Windows and really look at Spotlight, you would notice that it is quite impressive and there really isn't anything else quite like it in comparison. Macs have security by obscurity. You need real security when 99% of earth uses your OS. It isn't security through obscurity. It is a security and authorization model that is in almost every operating system except for Windows. It's called "I'll let you modify the system when you prove to me you are still the same person that logged in". Asking for a password before modifying the system is just common sense, not a "feature". Not to 1000's of machines in an organization. But you really don't need that for the Mac anyway. I have no clue what idea you are trying to express here... Yes. People need to make up their mind. Do you let microsoft include useful features or do you cry "monopoly!" The point the reader was making wasn't to poke fun at Microsoft for not including antivirus software with the operating system. It was to make a point that with all of the legacy code, from literally decades, that exist in Windows, there is a lack of secure and elegant programming. It is new code that is just grafted from previous generations. The point being that if Microsoft really wrote an operating system from the ground up, it would loose compatibility with previous versions causing no drivers to be available, or any programs to be available. This means they would have to convince everyone to buy into Windows like it was 1990 all over again. People would think, "if I really need to learn something all over again, I guess I would be more likely to choose Linux or Mac OS X". For developers, it will be heaven. They have so much cool stuff to play with I can't wait. Productivity will increase tremendously. Enjoy your 3 applications you have for the Mac I _am_ a Windows developer, and there is barely _anything_ available to productively test new applications. Developers do not want to spend time learning something new until we know it is going to actually present in the final. There is no point in working with Avalon or Indigo for more than 10 minutes at a time because I can't produce an application that has a "go-live" license. Hopefully Microsoft will provide Beta 2 of Visual Studio 2005 before the end of April...or at least by TechEd with how things are going... Oh, and don't be naive about the number of applications available on Mac OS X. Almost every category of software has an application available on Mac OS X. Anyway, let's just hope that Microsoft will provide more tangible information on Longhorn other than just PR spots.

Blah blah blah blah "My Mac has X and Y".. Yes, but it's ****. It can't run about 99% of consumer software so it's a piece of s h i t. Ambitious my arse - you shot yourself in the foot.

"Well, if you read the article, you would have noted "a brand new system being done for Longhorn". In order for something to be better, it must have already existed, which it did not. " Then I'm not sure WTF I have been using with Windows for several years. "Not to 1000's of machines in an organization. But you really don't need that for the Mac anyway" I was talking about an IT administrator in an organization deploying MAC OS on all the workstations with minimum interaction. "It isn't security through obscurity. It is a security and authorization model that is in almost every operating system except for Windows. It's called "I'll let you modify the system when you prove to me you are still the same person that logged in". Asking for a password before modifying the system is just common sense, not a "feature"." Spyware doesn't need to modify the "system" to screw with it. What prevents a user from getting an executable in an attachment in an email and running it? (NO anti virus) - "there is a lack of secure and elegant programming." I don't remember reading that in the reader's post. "_am_ a Windows developer, and there is barely _anything_ available to productively test new applications. Developers do not want to spend time learning something new until we know it is going to actually present in the final. There is no point in working with Avalon or Indigo for more than 10 minutes at a time because I can't produce an application that has a "go-live" license. " Then you have not had enough experience to understand what areas needed improvement that Longhorn specifically addresses. It adds things I have been wanting since 2001. Not to say I couldn't have done them then but would have been to costly and too much time. Honestly, .NET was the best thing to happen to programming. "Oh, and don't be naive about the number of applications available on Mac OS X. Almost every category of software has an application available on Mac OS X. " So did my Amiga. "Anyway, let's just hope that Microsoft will provide more tangible information on Longhorn other than just PR spots. " If you are an MSDN subscriber you can download it.

Good read, cant wait for Longhorn to home out, hell, I'll be in line to pick it up the day it hits the local stores!

the win users on here just look stupid.. security through obscurity? Are you still swearing by that?! Duh! It's Unix-based permissions.. if you attempt to delete a critical file or install ANYTHING, the system asks if you are authorized (you need a password to complete this) God..it's boring reading about rhetoric on vapour.. Paul I thought you said they were talking about features!!

I suppose Apple would have to copy Unix. Macs... their pretty little screens with a thousand pretty icons. Not that they do anything but look pretty... I find this funny; the world is sick because MS 'can't do what other OS makers do', while at the same time , MS is always trying to 'just copy the Mac time after time'. Weird. Make up your minds. But whatever. I will only use what works, be it Mac, Win, or Linux. PS: I use Win.

I'd like to hear some rhetoric on vapour! Wait, I just did... didn't a Mac user just say something?

Well, if you read the article, you would have noted "a brand new system being done for Longhorn". In order for something to be better, it must have already existed, which it did not. It did exist, and has for years, called ActiveSync. They're just including it with Longhorn now in a more integrated fashon. Same stuff, different version. Think about it. . Windows CE and Pocket PC versions must have had /something/ to connect with. The indexing tools that the web-based desktop search product offer is not that robust. They are limited in the arrtibutes that you can query by. Longhorn will most likely graft the technology from Lookout, which they recently bought, and be extended by WinFS once (if) it is released. If you could stop blindly defending Windows and really look at Spotlight, you would notice that it is quite impressive and there really isn't anything else quite like it in comparison. So did Microsoft buy the technology or are they copying from Apple? It isn't security through obscurity. It is a security and authorization model that is in almost every operating system except for Windows. It's called "I'll let you modify the system when you prove to me you are still the same person that logged in". Asking for a password before modifying the system is just common sense, not a "feature". The person you quoted was commenting in reference to exploits, not user rights. The Windows userbase is a huge target compared to the OSX userbase, which is about to be surpassed even by Linux in terms of userbase. In the case of permissions and auditing, those have existed in NTFS for a long time. Microsoft just isn't as eager to jump right to the Unix way of doing things, where you run as a user unless absolutely necessary. They are taking strides to get to that point though. The point the reader was making wasn't to poke fun at Microsoft for not including antivirus software with the operating system. It was to make a point that with all of the legacy code, from literally decades, that exist in Windows, there is a lack of secure and elegant programming. It is new code that is just grafted from previous generations. The point being that if Microsoft really wrote an operating system from the ground up, it would loose compatibility with previous versions causing no drivers to be available, or any programs to be available. This means they would have to convince everyone to buy into Windows like it was 1990 all over again. People would think, "if I really need to learn something all over again, I guess I would be more likely to choose Linux or Mac OS X". That's funny, isn't that what they've done with the Mac? Twice? First with the hardware switch from the 68k line to the PowerPC archetecture, then they abandoned MacOS 9 and created a new OS from scratch. Then again, Apple included all it's users needed to continue running their old applications. Were Microsoft to abandon it's codebase right now and develop a new operating system from scratch, don't you think they would do the same? Besides, you don't honestly think that elements of Windows 3.1 and 9x exist in XP or Longhorn, do you? It is all based on the Windows NT code base. The support for older APIs like Win16 and DOS are not provided by actual pieces of Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS, but by an emulation layer called Windows on Windows 16 (for Win16 apps) and the NTVM for DOS applications. In Windows x64, they have done the exact same thing. They have provided an emulation layer called Windows on Windows 32 to provide support for Win32 applications.

"I'd like to hear some rhetoric on vapour! Wait, I just did... didn't a Mac user just say something?" LOL! Except their OS is shipping ahead of time whereas Longhorn is years late, and is losing features all along the way that are already in MacOS. Hardly the time to be accusing Mac owners of vapour-ware.

"I'd like to hear some rhetoric on vapour! Wait, I just did... didn't a Mac user just say something?" LOL...just pop on over to Paul's "Windows Supersite", where he has a full review of this "vaporware".

Actually, OS X Tiger was delayed from 4th Q 2004 to now. Ahhh...no. It was never planned for Q4 2004. It was always planned for 1H 2005. They announced that at their developer conference in June 2004.

I really am a Windows user, and I quite like Microsoft software, but this is not really true: "Well, if you read the article, you would have noted "a brand new system being done for Longhorn". In order for something to be better, it must have already existed, which it did not. It did exist, and has for years, called ActiveSync. They're just including it with Longhorn now in a more integrated fashon. Same stuff, different version. Think about it. . Windows CE and Pocket PC versions must have had /something/ to connect with. " SyncManager isn't ActiveSync. It syncs "everything". Windows Mobile, mobile PCs, audio players... Get it? --Szajd

Actually, OS X Tiger was delayed from 4th Q 2004 to now. yeesh.. that would make Panther fit in.. where exactly?

These Mac people are really stupid and blind. Don't they know that Bill owns Mac too! If it wasn't for good ole Bill there WOULD BE NO MAC. That's because they sucked so bad for so long that, yes that's right, they ran out of money. So get back to designing your kiosks and web pages, and quit disturbing us while we discuss the real future of computing..... Desktop search is a Microsoft inititive that Apple is copying... Steve Jobs is a joke, who the vast majority of people think is cool... That's the problem with the world, they are bandwagon'ers... Oh, I need an Ipod, because everyone else is doing it.... I will stick with my Nomad.. Creative invented MP3 players, but Steve Jobs won't tell you that. Idiots...

SyncManager isn't ActiveSync. It syncs "everything". Windows Mobile, mobile PCs, audio players... Get it? --Szajd Active Synch Synchs everything too! I sure hope that this doesn't synch manager doesn't grab all of the MP3's off of my PC just because I hook my phone up to it.

If IBM hadn't fumbled the PC football directly into MS' hands, then I'd like to think that Apple would have started getting into the server business, but that's just not what happened. The stupid argument over whether Mac is better than Windows is irrelevant. Who wins the marketplace is all that matters, and on the list of contenders Apple doesn't even show up. Not that Mac isn't really great - it's just that it's a niche player. Sort of like Sybase: great DB, but if you're not in the Financial industry it's not the first or second choice. Nothing wrong with a niche. Every graphic designer I know uses a Mac and it doesn't seem to slow anyone down.

> SyncManager isn't ActiveSync. It syncs "everything". Windows Mobile, mobile PCs, audio players... Get it? And this needs years to develop?! Oh, didn´t know that... > The stupid argument over whether Mac is better than Windows is irrelevant. Right! Work what you like to work with. The only thing that´s important for me, are standardized interfaces. Windows has that (.NET), Linux had it since i can think and Apple (?) does so also i think (dont need it there). The rest is experience...

Wow! Not running as a local admin, what a concept! Glad to see MS is on the cutting edge of security. MS is a joke!

why re so many mac users here. I mean if mac is so good. What are you doing on a windows site?

Mac users like to come here because this is one of the few Windows sites that has fans (on another platform, but let's not sweat the details) who are as rabid as they are. Instant flamewar!

Mostly totally uninteresting comments as usual. Paul, please turn off the comment feature or rename it to "Microsoft bashing".

why re so many mac users here. I mean if mac is so good. What are you doing on a windows site? ---- entertainment

What kind of world world we be living in if microsoft had delivered all they promised. Just a thought.

"[Longhorn] It's a very big deal. There will be massive marketing." thought so. Besides the marketing anything worth mentioning? thought so

- Antispyware. Longhorn will include antispyware technology but not antivirus technology, Allchin says. antivirus will cost you extra, this way you'll be paying for your 'patches' in the future.

"Mac fans, where are you??? I need to laugh today." Hi, I'm a Mac fan. How's everyone here doing? This Longhorn OS sure sounds exciting, doesn't it? Too bad the delivery date keeps getting pushed back. Late 2006 seems like a long time to wait. Hopefully, they won't have to cut many more announced features before then.

Heh, heh, heh. Don't you just love seeing the Microsoft "Hype Machine" at work? Here's the quote by Allchin: "Longhorn is not incremental. The world, in my opinion, thinks this is perhaps the next version of a service pack. It's not. It's a very big deal." Wow! This sounds like a major breakthrough! A fantastic new OS! Incredible new features! What is it going to have? Huh? Huh? C'mon, Allchin, tell us! We're all dying to hear about it! ...."There will be massive marketing." Oh.

Try to catch "attack of the show" on g4 today. They spoke of the microsoft employee today who leaked that "longhorn is a joke, it's all hype." Catch the show notes when it's released at 9pm est. I know I will.. I will probably have to continue using win because of the industry I am in but I really like the new tiger OS. I've been using it for the last 4 days. Expose` and the dashboard are very cool and spotlight is amazing. I have 17gigs of mp3s I can find whatever I am looking for most of the time in a few chars. I would love to migrate my company over to mac but won't be apple to because apple isn't as friendly for developers (no purchasing, home/community building softwares in the works from any firms in know). Windows will probably always rule even though apple without a doubt has the very best OS in more catagories than microsoft has at this time.

That's true, the problems with mac no proper apps no marketing too expensive you can rant about how good the mac is but windows as much as mac people can pay it out is the overwhelming majority, a lot of mac users are like gay people, a whinging minority. No offense of course and all this talk about the late release, well, they would have it out earlier except because of all the court action, they aren't allowed to release it earlier. Anyways, let's see how much this 'I want to hump the tiger but I can't because it's just some minority OS' continues after MS makes another 50 Billion from a well marketed, well supported product :)

I'd sure like to install Tiger, but I dont have a DVD player on the Mac we own. How stupid is that, Apple? Release an OS only on DVD media. Why do people feel the need to always criticize MS? Sure some things theyve done aren't the best, but by in large we are better off in the IT world for having them around. As for the Mac, where would they be if MS didnt do Mac Office? Hell, Microsoft sells more software for the Mac than Appple does !!

"Why do people feel the need to always criticize MS? Sure some things theyve done aren't the best, but by in large we are better off in the IT world for having them around." ==> Jealousy

People criticize Microsoft because it is a monopoly and gets forced upon them for a hundred different reasons. They lose their freedom to choose because of the forces of "compatibility" and "industry standards" and "market necessity". Americans, in particular, like to choose rather than having choices removed or forced upon them by price and volume, which is what the 1000 lb gorilla that is Microsoft does. The constant security updates caused by poor security design and the inclusion of dangerous features (for a system exposed to the world via the internet) creates the feeling of exposure and vulnerability that cannot be avoided without isolating yourself. People who used to LIKE programming are also somewhat dismayed by the thousands of API libraries they have to be familiar with to write a "Hello world" program, and utter lack of decipherability of the resulting code, compared to former generations of programming languages. These tools come with the Windows GUI and the use of Microsoft development tools which ALSO get forced upon them for reasons of "compatibility". Computing began wide open; then IBM took over everything; then Microsoft took over everything. Then Asians took over virtually all the hardware manufacturing and now you can't make anything and make enough money to stay in business on it unless you can sell 10 Million of them and have it made in China. Now software is moving to China and India too, and pretty soon you won't be able to make any money on it either unless you build it there or are Microsoft, living off the monopoly status of the OS while outsourcing the rest of it to India. The day of the "computer geek" making a good living with computers is just about over, due to the MS monopoly and lack of diversity, even in major apps.

Actually, Software is not moving offshore becuase of microsoft, its because we live in a (semi) Free Market economy. What is happening to software developers has already happened to steel mills, the clothing industry, the coal industry, and oil to some extent (though oil is a different problem which I wont get into). Bleeding Edge stuff will *always* (as long as the US is the major player in technology) be first assembled and built here first, then it get shipped over seas to mass produce, mostly because Asia has proved over and over it can mass produce stuff CHEAPER than we can. IPODs were developed in the US, and exported to be assembled overseas. If software engineers are really that worried about their job, just find a nich market that starts all opperations in the US, or *ANY* defence contractor, because by definition of that kind of work, it cannot go overseas. BTW, I have 3 main machines i use. Laptop: Windows XP for college and software. Server1: Linux, because it is supperiour in every way to a windows server. Server2: Apple machine because I got tired of bashing Mac OS X and not ever using it

Every sore MS user complains that everyone wants an iPod 'cause everyone else has one. Well, isn't the same true for Microsoft? I want Windows because no one has a Mac? And the number 2 reason people have Windows over Mac is that their software won't run on a Mac. Well guess what kiddies, before Longhorn comes out (although that's not saying anything) Macs will be able to handle sofware just like Windows. There goes the number 2 reason on why people have Windows. And the only other one is being pulled at harder and harder... My dad is CEO of a computer engineering company, uses Windows, sells Windows on computers; everything he does is thanks to Microsoft. We have always had the 'latest' stuff. At least what's important. When color printers came out, we had one even though no other family we knew had one for a few years. When 3.1 came out, we had it. We've always been on top of the game. Now, every other day my Dad comes in my room saying, so when do you want to switch from Windows? He used to be a Windows fiend!! Now he realizes that other operating systems are better. He favors Linux (which I hate) and I favor Mac. Really, the only difference in why the Mac is better than Windows is that they're ahead of the game and you're all sore because of it. If Microsoft wasn't as slow, they'd be right back up there. And, oh yes, it's absolutely hilarious that Halo3 will be released when PS3 comes out. I think its even more hilarious that Leopoard will be released when Longhorn comes out. But then again, there is this great OSX operating system already. Don't get me wrong- I use Windows and don't own a Mac. The only time I use a Mac is when I do heavy artwork on the computer. (As in for projects or school, etc.) I used to hate the Mac before OSX came out. But now, since they're more ahead of the game than Microsoft is, I'm leaning toward the Mac. I might run Windows on a Mac if I get one, who knows. But Macs are better