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| Microsoft Announces next incarnation of Windows OS |
Source: Microsoft PressPass.
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Microsoft today unveiled Windows XP, previously
code-named Whistler, in a press event at the Experience Music Project in
Seattle, Wash. The event, hosted by Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software
Architect Bill Gates and Windows Division Group Vice President Jim Allchin,
featured a preview of the new visual design and videotaped statements from
industry leaders supporting the new operating system. To find out more
about the new home and business computing experiences made possible
by Windows XP, PressPass spoke with Microsoft general manager John Frederiksen.
| PressPass: | After more than half a decade in which the release year served as the product name for most versions of Windows, why the change to XP? |
| Frederiksen: | Windows XP represents a major shift in personal computing, and XP best represents this new direction of enabling experiences. With Windows XP, we really focused on simplifying and enhancing end-to-end computing experiences to unlock the power of the PC and allow users to take full advantage of their computers in the easiest possible ways. With Windows XP the power of the PC is extended to devices, web services and applications to allow users to do more than ever on their computers. |
| ...what this means: | We are continuing our trend of dumbing down the operating system. Our users seem to become confused by things such as running programs and entering information, so we are going to work on removing those options. |
| PressPass: | In the Windows XP naming announcement last week, Bill Gates said that XP marks the beginning of the evolution from applications to experiences. Can you explain what that means? |
| Frederiksen: | Windows XP will be the catalyst for the next stage of computing. It will allow people to begin to enjoy amazing, complete computing experiences that jump across current boundaries to span applications, devices, services, and the Internet in a very seamless way. |
| ...what this means: | We already disassembled Netscape Navigator and Spry Mosiac and stole the code, but now we're going to take Photoshop, de-assemble it and steal that code, and add that code to microsoft paint. |
| PressPass: | Is Windows XP the same kind of quantum leap in operating systems as Windows 95, or is it more of an evolutionary change? |
| Frederiksen: | Windows XP is the biggest leap forward since the Windows operating system first shipped. Windows XP will deliver an unprecedented level of dependability to customers with the enhanced Windows 2000 engine. It will unleash a revolutionary set of new experiences around photos, music, communication, mobile computing, help and support, and the connected home that will empower users to utilize their PCs to their full potential in ways that are simpler and easier than ever before. |
| ...what this means: | Congratulations, you now own NT. None of your DOS software or games will work, but we've included our version of WinAmp and Quicktime. Enjoy. |
| PressPass: | How will computing be different for Windows XP users? |
| Frederiksen: | It all comes back to the experience. People and PCs are capable of amazing things, and Windows XP unlocks the true potential of personal computing. Windows XP provides a seamless computing experience, whether the user is communicating with friends and family or creating, storing and sharing digital memories, or even working remotely. Windows XP also provides improved help and support, exciting entertainment options, and the tools for a more connected home. |
| ...what this means: | We've also made our own versions of Instant Messanger and Photoshop. |
| PressPass: | You talked about photographs earlier. Can you give us some additional examples of the kinds of experiences that Windows XP will make possible? |
| Frederiksen: | Windows XP makes it possible for users to achieve all sorts of end-to-end experiences -- music and video are other examples. People today are doing a wide variety of things with digital media, from listening to their favorite music, buying music online, copying their CDs to portable devices and hard drives, or watching home or DVD movies on their PCs. With Windows XP and Windows Media Player 8, users can do all of these things in a single, easy-to-use place. |
| ...what this means: | Windows XP, now with built in Napster! |
| PressPass: | With more and more people using digital devices, many are concerned that they will be overwhelmed by the complexity of making them all work together. Can you talk about some of the ways that Windows XP makes computing easier for the average user? |
| Frederiksen: | One of the major goals behind Windows XP was to make computing easy for users at any skill level. One way to achieve simplicity is to remove steps, so Windows XP contains built-in intelligence that streamlines the process to make the experiences easier. An example of how we are focusing on simplicity in an increasingly complex world of digital devices is support for intelligent AutoPlay. With Windows XP, when you insert a storage device into your PC, whether it is a Compact Flash Card or a CD, Windows will automatically present you with a list of options based on the content on the media. If it contains Windows Media files you will be presented with Music options, if it contains images you will be presented with Digital Photo options. Windows XP is anticipating what you want to do and making it easier for you to do it. |
| ...what this means: | Windows XP will take over all your devices for you. Resistance is futile. We've also removed your ability to change options on your system. You don't need to know how it works, why it works, or when it works. Any attempt to find out will result in immediate prosecution. It's like in 2001... Our machine makes the task not require people at all. |
| Frederiksen: | Another feature that will simplify the computing experience is Remote Assistance. Say you are the technical guru in your family, and your mother in Florida is having a problem getting her PC to do what she wants it to do. As easy as sending a piece of email, you can get permission to view and control her desktop and walk her through the solution. |
| ...what this means: | We disassembled PCAnywhere too. Somebody told us something about people using this maliciously, but we have faith that no one will do that. |
| PressPass: | What about look and feel? How much change can we expect in the Windows XP user interface? |
| Frederiksen: | The visual design changes in Windows XP are the most significant since the release of Windows 95. We have moved the design from a data-driven model to a task-oriented model, which makes it visually simple for users to figure out how to do the things they want to do. Take the new Start menu for instance: we have designed it as the true launching point for users to get started and do everything they want on their PC. We built intelligence into the design so the applications that are used most frequently will bubble up and be quickly and easily accessible. Our goal was to make Windows XP a more intuitive experience, without introducing the kind of design that would cause people to have to re-learn how to use Windows. |
| ...what this means: | No, we didn't change it. But we did redraw the Start button. |
| PressPass: | When will Windows XP be available? |
| Frederiksen: | Windows XP is now in Beta 1. The Beta 2 release is scheduled to become available before the end of the first quarter. We are still on target to be ready with a final public release during the second half of this year. |
| ...what this means: | We are in Beta 1. Beta 2 is going to be in testing later. Beta 3 will be released to the public for $99 as the final version, with Beta 4 being our second $99 release next year. |
| PressPass: | How has the PC industry responded to Windows XP so far? |
| Frederiksen: | We have seen overwhelming support from OEMs, ISVs, IHVs and retailers. This ability to experience more, which Windows XP brings to users -- to connect devices in a seamless way; to connect to the Internet, to connect to friends and family; to complete a project start to finish without having to switch between devices or applications -- this is all powerful stuff, and it has the industry extremely excited. |
| ...what this means: | People who sell our product have reported that they will sell our product. I mean, we run the PC Market anyway. What else do they expect to use...? *chuckle* Unix? |
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Microsoft, Windows, and Windows XP are copyrights
of Microsoft Corp.
The views expressed in "...what it means" are not neccessary the views of Microsoft. |
