The blogosphere has been buzzing amid reports that Microsoft plans to release a successor to Windows Vista within the next two years. Some insiders predict that Vienna, the codename for the project, is poised for a 2009 release.
At January’s Consumer Electronics Show, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates dropped a bombshell. In an interview with this blogger, he openly discussed the future of the Windows brand and when we could expect to see the next offering in the product line:
He “guarantees” that there will be a major new release of Windows in the next 2 to 4 years. This runs contrary to some of the analysts who have said that Windows Vista will be the last major release of Windows.
With Vista still wet behind the ears, analysts are already speculating on what its successor, codenamed Vienna, might bring to the table.
In an interview with PC World’s Robert McMillan, Microsoft Corporate VP of Development Ben Fathi further indulges our curiosity:
So what will be the coolest new feature in Vienna?
According to Fathi, that’s still being worked out. “We’re going to look at a fundamental piece of enabling technology. Maybe its hypervisors, I don’t know what it is,” he said. “Maybe it’s a new user interface paradigm for consumers.”
“It’s too early for me to talk about it,” he added. “But over the next few months I think you’re going to start hearing more and more.”
Microsoft, evoking comparison to the Great and Powerful Oz, is urging consumers to pay no attention to the operating system behind the curtain.
The company released a statement today from Kevin Kutz, Director, Windows Client, in response to recent speculation on the next version of the Microsoft Windows operating system:
“The launch of Windows Vista was an incredibly exciting moment for our customers and partners around the world, and the company is focused on the value Windows Vista will bring to people today. We are not giving official guidance to the public yet about the next version of Windows, other than that we’re working on it. When we are ready, we will provide updates.”
So, at least for now, it looks like Microsoft isn’t going to give up any of the goods concerning Vienna.
It’s probably for the best, anyway, seeing that the company still has its hands full with Vista’s compatibility issues (hey Korea; it’s not a “bug” – it’s a “feature”) with numerous types of software.
But at the very least, it gives me a juicy new rumor to speculate about with absolutely no shred of evidence whatsoever, and that’s just fine in my book.
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