Windows 8 set for 2012 release
By Barry Collins
Posted on 23 Nov 2009 at 07:04
An Official Microsoft roadmap shows that Windows 8 is due to launch in 2012.
The roadmap was spotted by the website Microsoft Kitchen at last week's Professional Developers Conference in LA. Although Microsoft said next to nothing about Windows 8 in public, the roadmap was delivered to the company's partners.
The timescale is similar to the gap between Windows Vista (which officially launched in January 2007) and Windows 7 (which shipped in October), although the early success of Windows 7 suggests there's no need for Microsoft to rush out another client OS.
Microsoft has said very little about its plans for Windows 8 to date, although clues have started to emerge about the next-gen operating system. The LinkedIn profile of a Microsoft researcher revealed that the company is working on making the Windows 8 kernel 128-bit compatible, upping the ante from the 32- and 64-bit Windows 7. The researcher's profile said the company was working with processor partners such as Intel, AMD, HP and IBM on the transition.
On a recent visit to London, Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer also reaffirmed the company's commitment to heavyweight client OSes, dismissing rumours that future versions of Windows would become more modular.
That puts clear blue water between Microsoft and Google, which last week unveiled full details of its Chrome OS, a lightweight operating system primarily aimed at the netbook market.
From around the web
Lightweight, less damaging on the Environment, less power, cheap, multi-platform < This is what Google is currently selling 'us', the opposite is M$ - think.
By nicomo on 23 Nov 2009 
Lightweight - limited use. less damaging on the Environment - 'Green' software? less power - must be online to use, WiFi uses energy. cheap - Linux, ('free'). multi-platform - netbooks only and then only for those it's been written to run on, you cannot add drivers, more apps or extra devices.
I think I'll stick with Windows for now, thanks
By greemble on 23 Nov 2009
Missing a trick
Microsoft don't appear to have learned from Windows Vista and 7 at all.
They should be looking to trim as much bloat from core Windows as they reasonably can. A big part of what has made people buy Win7 is the perceived performance, quicker start up and shutdown, snappier response times. Computers are becoming more like home devices. If Media Centre is going to take off, then it needs to behave like a TV and DVD, start almost instantly, bring up disc menus in seconds etc.
I don't buy into the Chrome OS model where everything is accessed in the cloud, but MS need to separate features from core, optimise the core and deliver rich features as verticals on a really quick core. If they did that Win 8 would really fly.
By Dannyt on 24 Nov 2009
128 bit? Is 18x10^15 bytes not enough for some people?
By qwertyqwerty87 on 26 Nov 2009
B5U4L0L3S8H2I7T
Another OS? I use W2000 for any serious applications that I have. Does the job very well and is very reliable but it is not connected to the internet. No continuous updating and upgrading of all my other programs and is really, really secure. It also boots much faster than my other computers with XP Pro & Vista ultimate. There is excellent free software for almost any purpose. I must admit though I am under pressure from my wife to get rid of it as my new purchases were contingent on the disposal of the older desktop computer. I need to hide it somewhere soon.
By trickydicky16 on 27 Nov 2009
MS's How to cut your own throat
This is good news, indeed! Now I won't bother to enrich MS by buying Windows 7; I'll just struggle along with Vista. Then, when I'll need a new computer anyway, I'll get one with W8. Alternatively--please Lord!--by then I'll have found the courage to boot Bill and all his evil works, and switch to Linux!
By Manik10 on 28 Nov 2009
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