Forget Vista, go Vienna!

Microsoft has announced that they are now coming up with a new OS after Vista. Called Windows Vienna, it is said to be totally revolutionary. Evvery Windows now has been merely an upgrade of older code libraries which happens to be the source of all the security flaws.

Since the old code libraries sucks resources and are vulnerable, Microsoft claims that the new Vienna will be coded from scratch. Windows Vienna will represent the start of a different generation of operating systems, bringing in new concepts and support for new types of hardware, along with a better security and a modular approach, which will allow future versions of Windows to be built more easily on Windows Vienna's engine.

For added security, Vienna will feature a new concept called a sandbox. All non-managed code will run in a sandboxed environment where access to the "outside world" is restricted by the operating system. Access to raw sockets will be disabled from within the sandbox, as will direct access to the file system, hardware abstraction layer (HAL), and complete memory addressing. All access to outside applications, files, and protocols will be regulated by the operating system, and any malicious activity will be (theoretically) halted immediately. If this approach is successful, it bodes very well for security and safety, as it is virtually impossible for a malicious application to cause any damage to the system if it is locked inside a metaphorical 'glass box.' As well, this sand boxed environment will be able to adapt itself to the code base it was written for. This will alleviate most problems that arise from back compatibility when a new operating system is made.

There have been other rumours where there may be some significant change as to how we use Windows now. For all we know, they may eliminate the idea of taskbar and startmenu all together. All we can do is wait till it comes out.

From my own opinion, Vista is a mediator for Vienna and XP. I believe that Vista is out because of DX10 and because of the ongoing development of graphics card. Thus it was hastily made to suck money. Buy Vista or no DX10! This will only make Vista another flop like the Windows ME. My recommendations is to try to sit out and wait for Vienna. If you really have to, get Vista after SP1 is out. The Service Pack 1 for Vista is scheduled to be out at the end of this year. Windows Vienna however is scheduled to be out around 2009/2010.