First of all, I know this is the Windows XP forum, and I'm mentioning Windows in general, not a specialized OS. However, there is no general discussion for Windows itself, so I just decided to put it here, because this Windows XP forum is (from my admitedly biased perspective) the most popular forum, and the most read... and, after all, other than Windows Server 2003, Windows XP is the newest OS (don't count Vista, please -- it's only a beta, thankyouverymuch). My question is, what do you see in the future of Microsoft Windows? Do you think Microsoft Windows will really continue well into the century, or will Microsoft halt Windows and create a whole new operating system from the ground up, with a new tagline and all? I mean, no offense, but the Windows name is well-known, and will become old in time. Windows itself is a metaphor of looking outside a window -- that applied well to the 1990's, when computers weren't as commonplace and people used the Internet rarely, so it was a special occassion to look outside at the world outside your home, or outside your virtual "window." Nowadays, it's practically unusual not to have a computer, especially Microsoft Windows-operated computers -- and you can go virtually anywhere on the Internet, and even see the world from up above, thanks to Google Earth and their copycats. The sky is no longer the limit, really. So, wouldn't the term, "Windows" be limiting yourself, just seeing the world from 4 (or more) panes of glass/plastic? Think about it, and discuss your predications for Microsoft Windows, or said new operating system, whenever/if it will happen. Side Note: Mods, if you feel this topic is inappropriate for this certain forum, please feel inclined to move this to another forum - or delete it - but please private message me if you do so, because it's hard to keep track. Thanks! -Andrew

windows will be around for quite some time to come, reguardless of what Microsoft does. Simply because the world itself is not up to the change or doesn't want to change. It is now 15 years or so of windows and I still get people bringing in the computer to be fixed that has 95 on it(not so much as 98) but they either don't want to change because mostly of the cost, so they just keep plugging along with what they have. That is what you will see but for much longer times with xp versions because of the people will not want to upgrade to say 64 bit as it is although M$ has said that it would swap out the OS disc for the postage. IN THE MATTERS OF STYLE, swim with the current; in matters of principle, STAND LIKE A ROCK Visit Computer Vitals For A Pleasant Surprise

Your concept of Windows being a metaphor for looking through a window to view the outside world is an interesting one. Windows was the first O/S to offer a graphical user's interface, and one of its most important features was to allow for more than one application to be opened at the same time. This allowed the user to switch back and forth between open apps or "windows" as they were termed. All things change over time, and who knows what the future holds for Microsoft and Windows? One thing I do feel fairly certain about though, is that if any major changes are made, Microsoft will be at the forefront of new developments. They would have to be grossly mis-managed not to be, and I can't see that happening. Regards, Bluedog.

The future of windows & from a slightly pessimistic view i think windows (whatever name) will last for sometime, in what ever guise it calls itself, why: ease of use, the contemporary technology it uses, the general public understanding of benefits it provides through business & leisure. pesimistic because like most long term empires microsoft will repeat it self like reinventing the wheel adding more bells and whistles 'features' that marketing will tell you cant do without at a spiraling upwards cost & becoming bloatware. Several other ideas have started to arrive with the new ipv6 a 'bigger internet',and internet2 network allowing gigs of data per min,& cheaper & higher data storage capacity so i would think these major changes in technology will herald a faster pace of change through IT as a whole rather than a change of OS which is transferable. Taking the long view, data transmision down glass fibre coupled with extreme minaturisation and its integration into a pc bus will change the physical hardware side of computing, so i think the hardware will evolve faster than the OS.

"Windows was the first O/S to offer a graphical user's interface," actually, that's not true. The first GUI was introduced in 1973 for the Alto computer by Xerox. :) That aside, Windows will be around far longer than any of us could imagine... Soylent Green is PEOPLE!!!

Hi Jennifer, I stand corrected. I had heard of the Alto, and it was an amazing machine for its time, although at something like $30,000 per unit it was a bit beyond what the average user could afford. Had the developers worked at it a little longer, they might be where Microsoft is today.

Quote - "Windows itself is a metaphor of looking outside a window -- that applied well to the 1990's, when computers weren't as commonplace.." Er..no. Its because the GUI uses boxes to display and organise data which look just like windows. I think you've got that part completely wrong!