Windows Fiji: Somewhere Between Vista and "Seven"

How many different editions can there be?

Published on March 20, 2007 By Zoomba In WinCustomize News

One thing Microsoft was heavily blasted for over Vista was how long it took to get it out the door. Five years between OS releases is a long time considering Apple's 1.5 year turn-around on OSX iterations, and even Redmond's own history (95, 98, 2000, 2002) with desktop OS versions. This time though, Microsoft has no intention of letting things go that long before the next version of Windows.

Technology blogger for ZDNet, Mary Jo Foley has a bit of information on what this interim Windows release will be. Codename "Fiji", it's not Windows Vista SP1, but it's not a big jump forward in technology either. It will be the interim release between Vista and "Windows Seven" (formerly codename Vienna). It looks like it's claim to fame is going to be as a media center OS.

The question becomes, what will Microsoft do with the Media Center capabilities built into Home Premium and Ultimate? Will they be abandoned in 2008 when Fiji rolls around? Will we really need a stand-alone Media Center edition of Vista when there are already so many specialized editions of the OS?

EDIT: Original story unclear on interim status of Fiji.

Comments (Page 2)

Astyanax

on Mar 20, 2007

So your saying that companies like Creative not being ready is Microsofts fault? Creative didn't even try to be ready, they ignored the OS entirely wile it was in its beta stage, then went crazy once it was released to come up with something.

ZubaZ

on Mar 20, 2007

If you read what Stardock has said (a company I DO trust knows what they are doing) the did not want to spend huge amounts of resources developing for beta software that is subject to change. [or somethign to that effect]

What happens when SD spends months getting Windowblinds ready for Vista on RC1 and then MS says "Hmmm, this theme engine sucks, let's go with this code we stole from Apple/Linux/Amiga/BeOS/etc."?

Waiting until something is Gold and catching up can be good business practice; especially if EVERYONE is doing it.

jaximflash

on Mar 20, 2007

I think Charlie Owen's comments about Fiji were misinterpreted. It's possible that Fiji will not only include improvements to Media Center, but it will also include improvements to Vista in general. He talks about Media Center aspect of Fiji specifically because he works in that department.

BuddhaV10

on Mar 21, 2007

uhhh.... yea?

are you aware that Hardware companies like Creative, NVIDIA, ATI, and all the others use a partnership with Microsoft to move products? Without Those Drivers ready to go, Microsoft should have waited, or assisted them in the creation of those drivers. To release a DX10 OS when the company that makes the Only DX10 card has drivers that haven't worked since they've been updated (Forceware 100.65) is foolish, and makes Microsoft seem like snobby jack monkeys that care more about money than about the customer...If Microsoft spent so much money, and delayed it for so long, would it have killed them to wait for proper drivers? how about waiting for a DX10 Card for ATI? that's Microsoft, not third party. Vista has over 2000 differences from XP, and a new architecture, so drivers need to be made. and the reason Ati's Drivers are better for vista is maybe because THEY HAVE NO DX10!

not to be argumentative, just seems that you back an OS that on shaky ground, at best.

Astyanax

on Mar 21, 2007

My point was Creative didn't even try to start making drivers until it was too late. Thats not Microsoft's fault, its Creatives fault. They completely missed the Beta 1, Beta 2, RC1, and RC2 mark.

By the way the link in the article wasn't working.

hbrooster

on Mar 21, 2007

I think Microsoft and the driver companies are both to blame for this mess.

Microsoft should of worked with the companies to help prepare for the vista release.

The driver companies(ie.Nvidia, Creative...) should have pressed the issue with Microsoft more.

Zubaz has a good point though why develop a program based on the beta version of Vista when Microsoft will probably change something.

BuddhaV10

on Mar 21, 2007

Zubaz has a good point though why develop a program based on the beta version of Vista when Microsoft will probably change something.

exactly! depending on the hardware, Creative now has a relatively good set of Vista x86 and x64 drivers. I just installed My X-Fi Fatality card, on a Vista Business install, and it's fine. Microsoft did change from RC2 ro the full version, which made RC2 drivers useless to most people. Microsoft probably didn't even bother to help Creative, either.

Fourth Letter

on Mar 21, 2007

Just to get back on point as a regular reader of the green button and other MCE sites it has been accepted for some time that although vista media center has a new look, underneath it is still MCE2005.
The new release planned is a new version of MCE which will be an update for vista.
Remember no-one is fighting for the desktop anymore they are all fighting for pride of place on your big screen HDTV , which i'm sure the new mac minis and imacs will also be designed for.
Vista MCE is good but I'm sure the new version will have web browser and applications specifically written as a 10 foot interface so with a remote in your hand you need never leave MCE at all.

Morpheous416

on Mar 21, 2007

Then why not make a comparison to a release more relevant...like Windows XP Media Center Edition? Commenting on "the rotting stench" makes it sound much worse than "possibly unnecessary".

XP Media Center....was, at the beginning....not a desktop OS. Wasn't supposed to be. It was designed specifically as a media addition to your home theater system (a computer to replace your mp3/dvd/tivo...etc players including streaming). It's not so much a new OS as it is an extension of XP. The core is the same. The registry is the same....and all the GPE and Security sections are the same. One car, two different paint jobs. MCE is nothing more than a glorified menu screen for the OS.

If people get caught between two new OSes...one will suffer...it's a waste of time.

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