Published: Monday 23rd November, 2009 | Author: Sylvie Barak
Companies: Microsoft (All Microsoft content)
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email to a friend2012 may currently be a date you associate with a dramatic, special-effect ridden, Armageddon type scenario, but Microsoft, it seems, is planning to use the end of the world to its own advantage, and release Windows 8.
Whereas most of Microsoft seems tight lipped when it comes to the next version of its Windows desktop software - having only just launched its ‘selling-like-hotcakes' Windows 7 - the Windows server group appear to have much looser lips, and powerpoint slides to boot.
The following road maps tipped up on a website belonging to blogger Stephen Chapman and are similar to slides leaked in Italy back in August.
Windows Server works towards minor releases every two years and major releases every four years. The group released Windows Server 2008 R2 - classed as a minor update - earlier this year before the launch of Windows 7, but Microsoft has plans to tie its desktop and server releases closer together, meaning a 2012 release should be about right.
So, Mayan prophecy of doom and destruction, or just another version of Windows? Stay tuned and we'll find out for you.
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Windows Vista launched in 2006. Windows 7 Launched in 2009. Why wouldn't you expect Windows 8 in 2-3 years? That's normal product cycle right there.Quote
Yeah I know. It's silly isn't it. MS should just ride the wave of WIndows 7 based popularity for the next 3 years and then when they suddenly realise the competition has them licked react in a panic and throw together a newer version in the next couple of months.
FYI, Windows 7 was planned not long after Windows XP was released. Winsows XP was released less than 2 years after Windows 2000 and Windows ME. Why do people keep saying this just because VIsta took so long? Vista is the odd one out, not all of the other versions of Windows.
Vista wasn't the odd one out. It is well known that Vista was delayed because Microsoft put their development teams onto the Windows XP SP2 project. So Windows XP SP2 delayed the release of Windows Vista. No other reason. It wasn't because Windows XP was perfect and there wasn't a need for a new OS. It was because Windows XP is full of major flaws that Microsoft had to make a priority to address first.Quote
Vista wasn't the odd one out.
Erm, yes it was - it took far longer to arrive than planned. His point was that people seem to think that 5 years is the norm and MS aim to deliver on a 3 year cycle (of course earlier is possible too, but this is their roadmap plan).
It is well known that Vista was delayed because Microsoft put their development teams onto the Windows XP SP2 project. So Windows XP SP2 delayed the release of Windows Vista. No other reason. It wasn't because Windows XP was perfect and there wasn't a need for a new OS. It was because Windows XP is full of major flaws that Microsoft had to make a priority to address first.
The widely held view was that the longhorn project was originally scheduled to be a further interation of the XP codebase. About halfway through the project they released it was unmaintainable and needed a heavy re-write, with a reduced feature set. MS have thousands of developers (literally), all working on different projects.Quote
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