Microsoft Shows Off Latest Longhorn Build at WinHEC 2005

[Kent Pribbernow]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.neowin.net/events/?p=56' target='_blank'>http://www.neowin.net/events/?p=56</a><br /><br /></div>WinHEC (Windows Hardware Engineering Conference) is here, and Microsoft is proudly showing off the lastest incarnation of Longhorn (Build 5048) to attendees. This is a preview build, not an actual beta. One important item I need to point out is the "new" interface in this build. Although this is an early look at "Aero" (the upcoming Longhorn GUI design), it <b>IS NOT</b> the finished product. When Longhorn ships in 2006/2007 it will sport a completely different look and feel, just as Whistler (Windows XP) did when it was released. So I don't want to hear any bitching about how ugly Longhorn is, or that Microsoft doesn't know how to design attractive user interfaces. You're just going to make yourself look silly. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/longhorn5048.jpg" />

[Suhit Gupta]

I guess in related news, there are some minor details emerging about IE7 - http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=22775

Suhit

[James Fee]

It looks like a copy of OS X with that grey brushed metal. Guess Jobs was right. ;)

Actually all this new interface stuff doesn't do a thing for me. I still always use the classic theme with winxp myself.

[Kent Pribbernow]

Well as I pointed out in my post, the finished product will likely look nothing like this when Longhorn ships. Microsoft traditionally keeps its GUI secrets under lock and key until OS development reaches the final stage. XP's Crayola inspired interface, called LUNA, wasn't unveiled to the public until Beta 3. Prior to that Microsoft had been showing XP with a completely different look and feel, a theme called "Watercolor", that more closely resembled the traditional Classic theme. LUNA was kind of a shock to everyone when Microsoft showed it off for the first time. Or maybe it was Jim Alchin doing his best Steve Jobs impersonation that shocked everyone more. :lol:

[Macguy59]

GUI aside at the rate MS is cutting stuff from LH to get it out the door, you have to wonder if it's a worthwhile upgrade from XP.

[klinux]

More screenshots at Thurott's site here (http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/longhorn_5048_gallery_01.asp).

Nice to see the transparency which is great when doing command line work. Granted, how many users will use that feature (in Windows, no less)?

Still looks cluttered to me.

[Macguy59]

More screenshots at Thurott's site here (http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/longhorn_5048_gallery_01.asp).

Nice to see the transparency which is great when doing command line work. Granted, how many users will use that feature (in Windows, no less)?

Still looks cluttered to me.

Is this true transparency or is it like pseudo transparent terminals I used in Linux 2 years ago?

[klinux]

What do you mean by transparency? I have only used transparency in OS X via Windows hacks (Yzshadow, for example) so I do not know how Longhorn handles it.

[Macguy59]

What do you mean by transparency? I have only used transparency in OS X via Windows hacks (Yzshadow, for example) so I do not know how Longhorn handles it.


Terminal windows had transparent backgrounds in Linux. Yzshadow is a Windows hack that has nothing to do with OS X and only affects menu transparency.