What a day this has been. Microsoft's second day of the Professional Developers Conference started off with a bang. Not only did Ray Ozzie (Microsoft Chief Software Architect introduce Windows 7, but they gave a sweet demo of all its new features. Windows 7 promises to change all the wrong perceptions about the platform and give businesses, developers and consumers a rich, complete computing experience. One thing is for sure, I must get a Tablet PC, because the new interface is geared toward working with touch surfaces. Don't worry, the traditional point and click approach is still there and even more powerful now. Anyway, I have aggregated a list of great content from around the web about Windows 7, here is a long list that should keep well occupied for hours.

Lets start off with ActiveWin's 25 page review which I was happy to help author, in addition from other enthusiast web sites:

ActiveWin.com: Microsoft Windows 7 Pre Beta M3 Build 6801 Preview
ActiveWin.com: Microsoft Windows 7 Pre Beta M3 Build 6801 (PDC2008) Screenshots

Microsoft

* Windows 7 Home Page on Microsoft.com
* Microsoft Delivers Pre-Beta Release of Windows 7 to Developers and Previews New Web Applications Based on Office Software
* Microsoft Announces the Next Version of Windows Embedded Standard to Be Built on Windows 7
* The Complete Windows Experience – Windows 7 + Windows Live
* How Libraries & HomeGroup Work Together in Windows 7

Ed Bott - A first look at Windows 7’s pre-beta PDC release
Neowin - Introducing the Windows 7 UI
WinSupersite - Windows 7 Preview
The Windows Blog - Notes on the Windows 7 Demo from Today’s PDC Keynote
eWeek - Windows 7 a Big Improvement over Vista
PC Magazine - Inside Windows 7 Pre-Beta

Analysis:

Mary Jo Foley - Windows 7: What’s coming for business users
The Windows Blog - Windows 7 Unveiled Today at PDC 2008
OSNEWS: Overhauling the Windows Interface
CNET: Will Windows 7 be a better Vista?

Interviews:
Ars@PDC: Steven Sinofsky on Windows 7 and netbooks

Resources:

Microsoft Professional Developers Conference 2008 Virtual Pressroom
Windows 7 Reviewers Guide (PDF)
Windows 7 At A Glance (PDF)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/
http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/default.aspx
Windows 7: Pre-release privacy statement
Windows 7 Software Logo Program for Client
Windows Media Center in the PDC Build of Windows 7

Here is a look at the new Windows Desktop that focuses on integrating new experiences such as Touch, while improving the traditional point and click philosophy.

The new Windows Desktop

The improved Start menu with Jump List for better interaction your applications.

Check them out HERE

From WinFuture via NeoWin

Microsoft has been busy today announcing a new developer platform at PDC 2008. Yet the big topic on everybody's mind is Windows 7.

I was just browsing the web when I came across two screenshots said to be Windows 7 with a slightly different Taskbar.

Its been a busy week for Windows 7 news around the web and its not a surprise actually, since this Monday Microsoft's most anticipated Developers Conference (PDC 2008) will bring individuals from around the world to witness where Microsoft is heading with the platform. The big topics of course Windows 7, Windows Live, Windows Cloud and .NET is on everybody's mind. Well, I can't be there, so I will just have to stay at home and enjoy the show from within Internet Explorer. Anyway, here is a recap of the week in 7 with interesting stories, opinions and rumors about Microsoft's next version of Windows. Bob Stein of ActiveWin.com will be at PDC 2008 this week covering the event with interviews so make sure you check the site for regular updates.

Windows 7 Logo Requirements now available - istartedsomething.com

Sharp eye reader Long Zheng just posted about the availability of the Windows 7 Logo requirements. Microsoft is on a aggressive move to get third party ISV's ready for this major update of Windows. No doubt this also applies to IHVs and there conference is just little bit after next weeks PDC.

Windows 7 on Netbooks and Office 14 in the web browser? - CNET

CNET's Ina Fried is making some early speculation about information concerning Windows 7's support on the new notebook form factor called Netbooks, which are miniature laptops, small screen, keyboard preloaded with either Windows XP or Linux. That's probably the disadvantage for Microsoft right now, Netbooks are not running Windows Vista because it requires more memory and processing power than what is available in a Netbook, not to mention hard disk space. An ASUS CEO said in an interview recently that his Company will have Windows 7 on a future version of the Eee PC in the second half of 2009 with Touch capabilities.

Critical Security Update for Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003/2008, Vista and Windows 7 Pre-BETA

Quote: This vulnerability was reported after the release of Windows 7 Pre-Beta. Customers running Windows 7 Pre-Beta are encouraged to download and apply the update to their systems. On Windows 7 Pre-Beta systems, the vulnerable code path is only accessible to authenticated users. This vulnerability is not liable to be triggered if the attacker is not authenticated, and therefore would be rated Important.

Two new Official Microsoft Windows 7 Blogs are ready

Mary Jo foley talks about two new Microsoft blogs dedicated to the next release of Windows, 7.

Windows 7's release date spurs up speculation

Bloggers Ed Bott and Long Zheng have dugg up information about when the next version of Windows, 7 might be released to manufacturering. Of course, the speculated date given is no surprise, 'November 2009'. Microsoft has always promised that Windows 7 would be available by late 2009, even Steve Ballmer identified this earlier in the year.

Other interesting news and opinions from around the web about Windows 7 and Microsoft:

Windows Vista Team Blog: Vista Service Pack 2 Confirmed
PCMag: Windows 7: A Turning Point for Microsoft?
NetworkWorld: 5 reasons why skipping Windows Vista could backfire
Up Next: Office 2007 SP2
Early glimpse of Office ‘14’ at PDC 2008
Yahoo! kills Yahoo! Messenger for Windows Vista

Previously:
The Week in ‘7’ – Oct. 12 – 17. 2008.
The Week in ‘7’ – Oct. 7 – 10. 2008.

Vista is Microsoft's current flagship version of Windows, but that doesn't mean XP has been put out to pasture just yet. The operating system that brought new experiences in reliability and stability for consumers is 7 years old today. That's a long time in the software world. Thinking back to when the product RTMed in August 2001, I had just finished high school, the terrible tragedy of September 11, 2001 had occurred and then the Anthrax scare started happening, a whole lot was going on at the time. Windows XP over the years has grown into a beloved product and regardless of the bumps along the way such as Code Red, Nimda and Welchia that occurred in 2003, the product garnered a massive user base that is still strong.

Windows XP has seen numerous updates in its life in particular the security heavy Service Pack 2 that some would describe as a brand new release of the in itself. Looking back at its development history, Windows XP formerly code name Whistler was targeted as a major release building on the fundamentals of Windows 2000, not introducing incompatibilities and bringing the investments that consumers and businesses made in Windows 9x and Windows NT into the new millennium. Today's Internet at the time was in its infancy the plethora of blogs dedicated to Windows today was quite small although there were still major enthusiast web sites like ActiveWin.com, NeoWin.com and WinSupersite around at the time giving us the latest details on what to expect.

Today, the information overload of Windows has reached a height of disbelief sometimes. Examples include the recent fiasco over Windows 7's kernel version which was not even an issue for Windows XP which is NT 5.1. People cared about the fundamentals of Windows back then and a lot do today, but we have seen a shift in how Windows is perceived over the past couple years since Vista was released. Yet, still, Windows XP remains in the news with good commendation while its future successors try to communicate there amazing benefits in security, ease of use, features and reliability and advanced technologies like 64-bit computing and Multi-touch.

Windows XP is still available to OEMs through Media until January 2009 and the OS will continue to be supported on the new notebook form factors called Netbooks until 2010.

Happy B-day XP!

Previously:
Windows XP Matures - 5 Years Later

Resources:
Microsoft Windows XP Website
The GUI Gallery
ActiveWin: Windows XP Review

Wow, this was a long time coming, but its finally here. For the past couple of weeks now, I have been encountering problems trying to get the most recent Windows Vista Ultimate DreamScene Content Pack 4 to show in Windows Update. I don't know what was causing the delay on my machine running Vista x64, but its now finally here.

Yep, its finally here.

Previously:
Where are my Ultimate Extras and DreamScene Content Pack 4?

Resources:
Microsoft releases new Ultimate Extras - Microsoft Tinker
Windows Vista Ultimate Extras
Ultimate PC
New Ultimate Extras: Microsoft Tinker and Dreamscene Content Pack 4

Sharp eye reader Long Zheng just posted about the availability of the Windows 7 Logo requirements. Microsoft is on a aggressive move to get third party ISV's ready for this major update of Windows. No doubt this also applies to IHVs and there conference is just little bit after next weeks PDC.

The major highlights Long took the time to point out include:

1. Install and uninstall cleanly
2. Install to the correct folders by default
3. Support x64 versions of Windows
4. Follow User Account Control (UAC) Guidelines
5. Do not load Services and Drivers in Safe Mode
6. Digitally Sign Files
7. Do not prevent an installation or application from launching because of OS version checking
8. Prevent unnecessary reboots
9. Support multiuser sessions
10. Minimize application failures

I must say that 64-bit support is probably the most welcoming. Microsoft has been trying to get developers on this bandwagon for a long time and it looks like Windows 7 will be the golden brick road to Windows 64-bit compatibility and ubiquity. Some deep efforts have been made so far with Vista x64 and I have been an exclusive user of the platform since the OS RTMed in November 2006 and I have been using it since Build 5308 released in February of 2006.

Check out Long Zheng's blog for more information here

Download the Windows 7 Logo Requirement Document here (Microsoft Word Docx format)

As we approach PDC 2008 this coming Monday, the speculation about what Microsoft is planning to present at this years conference is reaching an intensity. The hot topics of course are Windows 7, Office 14 and Microsoft's Cloud OS. CNET's Ina Fried is making some early speculation about information concerning Windows 7's support on the new notebook form factor called Netbooks, which are miniature laptops, small screen, keyboard preloaded with either Windows XP or Linux. That's probably the disadvantage for Microsoft right now, Netbooks are not running Windows Vista because it requires more memory and processing power than what is available in a Netbook, not to mention hard disk space. An ASUS CEO said in an interview recently that his Company will have Windows 7 on a future version of the Eee PC in the second half of 2009 with Touch capabilities.

Here is what Ina Fried has to say:

Quote: The trend toward the small, cheap notebooks has not been lost on the software maker, however. When the topic turns to Windows 7 at the Professional Developers Conference next week, I would expect the software maker to talk about an operating system that can run well on all manner of laptops, including the ultra-low-end.

It's just one of many topics expected to come up at the conference, which takes place in downtown Los Angeles next week.

Ina also talks about Microsoft Office 14, the next version of Microsoft's productivity suite which will be presented not given to developers. The rumor is, it will finally run in the browser.

Quote: Day two will also feature talk of Office 14, the next version of Office, with sources saying that the company will show off some features, including its ability to run inside a Web browser.

This is all speculation of course, but what an exciting possibility and major threat to potential competitors Google and Yahoo!'s Zoho. Its about time, I'm sure it will be as cut down in functionality as Outlook Web Access and still require Office 14 on the hard disk for more advanced features. But for for the road warrior, this should come in quite handy. I assume it will either be a choice between on premise or paid for service through Microsoft or one of its partners if it turns out to be true.

Stay tuned, I will be scorering the web Monday and Tuesday for all the great info on PDC 2008.

From the Windows Vista Team Blog

Last week I posted a about the impending release of Windows Vista SP2. Now the Windows Vista Team  are finally confirming:

Hi there, Mike Nash here. 

As you know we are getting ready to talk about Windows 7 at the PDC next week.  Before we do that, I thought I would give you an update on our latest work for Windows Vista.

We are committed to continually improving Windows, and we've been getting some questions about the timing of the next service pack for Windows Vista.  Following the success of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 last spring, we have been working hard on Windows Vista Service Pack 2. As a part of the development and testing process, we're going to start by providing a small group of Technology Adoption Program customers with Windows Vista SP2 Beta for evaluation next Wednesday, October 29. The final release date for Windows Vista SP2 will be based on quality. So we'll track customer and partner feedback from the beta program before setting a final date for the release.

Read the entire post here

Windows Vista SP2 won't be a major update as some persons are correlating with Windows XP SP2 which was significant in respect to security. Vista SP2 will be a normal maintenance update that aggregates all post SP1 updates along with support for some new technologies, Mike Nash noted will be coming:

In addition to previously released updates since the launch of Windows Vista SP1, Windows Vista SP2 contains changes focused on supporting new types of hardware and adding support for several emerging standards:

• Windows Vista SP2 adds Windows Search 4.0 for faster and improved relevancy in searches.
• Windows Vista SP2 contains the Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack supporting the most recent specification for Bluetooth Technology.
• Ability to record data on to Blu-Ray media natively in Windows Vista.
• Adds Windows Connect Now (WCN) to simplify Wi-Fi Configuration.
• Windows Vista SP2 enables the exFAT file system to support UTC timestamps, which allows correct file synchronization across time zones. 

Looks like this will be a solid update.

Resources:

My Early Preview of Windows Vista SP1 BETA
Information about Windows Vista Service Pack 1
Up Next: Windows Vista SP2

The innovative version of Yahoo!'s Messenger for Vista has been discontinued according to the Company. A state sent to CNET notes:

Quote: 'Yahoo has made the strategic decision to discontinue external releases of the stand-alone Yahoo Messenger for Vista client and focus on delivering one Windows experience that is optimized for Windows users today," Yahoo's Terrell Karlsten said in a statement to CNET News. "This decision will help Yahoo increase efficiencies and deliver one consistent, full-featured solution for Windows users--whether they are using XP or Vista."

Read the entire post here

I only used this program a couple times on a friends Windows Vista laptop, it looked greate but I didn't see the key differentiator or uniqueness of it except for its semi-dark transparent interface and big bold profile pictures for contacts. The first test release didn't even work on Windows Vista 64-bit, so from early on it was pretty much a disaster. I do hope for Windows 7 to feature more innovative programs that support the Windows Presentation Foundation (formerly Avalon) with new apps. The Windows Live suite is looking like a likely candidate.

Microsoft released an update to that fixes a vulnerability in current and future versions of Windows. The vulnerability can be remotely exploited by malware.

Microsoft advises every Windows user / Administrator to update their machines, every currently supported Windows version is affected, so: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 & Windows Server 2008 Core Installation.

An interesting note I found out is that this vulnerability also affects the Windows 7 Pre-Beta build Microsoft is expected to hand out to PDC 2008 Attendees next week.

Quote: This vulnerability was reported after the release of Windows 7 Pre-Beta. Customers running Windows 7 Pre-Beta are encouraged to download and apply the update to their systems. On Windows 7 Pre-Beta systems, the vulnerable code path is only accessible to authenticated users. This vulnerability is not liable to be triggered if the attacker is not authenticated, and therefore would be rated Important.

So get patching!

More information: Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for October 2008

From All About Microsoft via Bink.nu

Mary Jo foley talks about two new Microsoft blogs dedicated to the next release of Windows, 7.

Quote: Welcome to the first post of a new Windows 7 blog. This blog will mainly focus on the development aspects of Windows 7 by providing valuable content for developers. We shell call this blog “The Windows 7 Blog for Developers”. By valuable content we mean that this blog will be a “one stop shop” on the road to get yourself familiar with what Windows 7 has to offer for developers and how you can “Light-Up” using Windows 7 features in your application. Check it out here

Quote: Microsoft also has started another Windows 7-related blog, known as the Springboard Series blog, which it is aiming at IT professionals.  According to the first post on that site by Windows Client IT Pro Director Celine Allee, the Windows client division will use this site to help business users make sense of “the speculation out there.”

Microsoft currently has a blog dedicated to end users and enthusiast called Engineering Windows 7. I'll be linking these blogs and checking them regularly for tid bits about Windows 7.

From CNET News

Last month in a blog post about PDC 2008, I wondered if Microsoft will be including early code for the next version of Microsoft Office, codename Office ‘14’ on those cool external drives that will be given to attendees. Looks like its not gonna according to CNET’s, Ina Fried:

Quote:

“Windows 7 and Windows Cloud may be the stars of Microsoft's Professional Developer Conference, but the next version of Office has also landed a role in the production.

Office 14, as the product is code-named, will be discussed at next week's event, with attendees likely to get a peek at a couple of its features, according to sources. Unlike Windows 7, though, folks shouldn't expect to leave Los Angeles with a copy of their own.”

Read the rest here

I don't know if I should find this strange or disappointing. Looking back at PDC 2005, Microsoft didn't present Office 12 (now Office 2007) to Developers there. The beta for Office 12 didn't begin until around December of 2005. With rumors going around that Windows 7 beta 1 will not be made available until December of this year, its a possibility that testers will not see early code until then. Microsoft could also be holding out until their Office Developer Conference next year before showing it off to the public. I am expecting though that Windows 7 and Office 14 when finalized will be launched together. Microsoft should also use the codename '14' for the final product. Its kinda catchy: "7 x 2 = 14"

Resources:

Office 12 Technical Beta Invites
Up Next: Office 2007 SP2

Mary Jo Foley just informed us that the Office Team is full steamed ahead with their next update for the popular productivity suite. Last week I noted that Office 2007 SP2 would might appear sometime around mid 2007, the Office Team is aiming for much earlier, think early 2009 or spring.

Quote: Among the new features coming in the desktop SP are previously announced file-format changes — specifically support for Open Document Format (ODF), Microsoft’s own XML Paper Specfication (XPS) and PDF. SP2 also will add improvements to Outlook calendaring reliability and improved Outlook performance overall; improvements to Excel’s charting mechanism; the ability for Visio to export UML models to an XML file compliant with the XMI standard; and an uninstall tool for Office client service packs. Read the rest here

Last week, a Microsoft Knowledge Base article gave early information about the existence of Windows Vista and Server 2008 SP2, which I suggested could probably be made available by mid 2009. Technical Testers have already received invitations to participate in the BETA Program.

Previously:

Up Next: Windows Vista SP2
Microsoft sends Vista SP2 invites - beta release in 4 weeks

From NetworkWorld

The report, written by Gartner analyst Michael Silver, states that most organizations should not skip Windows Vista entirely and should install Vista on new PCs as they are deployed, with the main reason being that ISVs (independent software vendors) don't support old versions of Windows long enough, or new versions of Windows soon enough.

In general, skipping a version of Windows means deploying the next version very early in its lifecycle. You become an early adopter of an unproven OS, which carries the risk of waiting 12 to 18 months for ISV support, testing applications, building images and piloting before the new OS can actually be deployed, Silver says.

The only companies that may be able to skip Vista entirely are ones doing forklift migrations (updating hardware and OS all at once) and that also don't plan to deploy Windows 7 until mid-2011, Silver says. This would be 18 months after Microsoft's stated Windows 7 ship date, the estimated time that Windows 7 will be mature and stable enough to deploy, in Gartner's view.

But even those companies are somewhat vulnerable to skipping Vista, Silver says, because, "Windows 7 is an unknown entity with unknown features and an uncertain time frame. Skipping Windows Vista doesn't mean that the work necessary to remediate applications for Windows Vista will be eliminated; much of the same work will be needed to prepare for Windows 7."

Read the rest here

An interesting article, I even discussed this same topic in a post earlier this month, 'Making the Case for Windows Vista', in it I said the following:

Waiting on Windows 7 to skip Vista does not make sense especially for businesses, since the same kernel will be used which means, any incompatibilities today moving from XP to Vista will also be there when trying to move from XP to 7. The strategy for most enterprise roll outs is to use a proven and tested product, which Vista will further be by 2010, by then the second Service Pack should also be out. I don't see a mass deployment of Windows 7, its the same case for most versions of Windows in the past.

From PC World Magazine

Quote: In a stunning reversal, Microsoft announced that future versions of Windows would no longer feature e-mail, contact management, calendar, photo management, and movie making in the initial install. Instead, Microsoft customers will be encouraged to download these app's from Windows Live online services. And although these services are, for now, somewhat underpowered compared with their current in-OS counterparts, there's every expectation that Microsoft will enrich the entire lineup in time for the Windows 7's 2009 or 2010 launch.

This is precisely the opposite of what Microsoft did 15 years ago when it launched what would be the last great version of DOS. Back in 1993, Microsoft stuffed the popular desktop PC platform (which still led Windows by a good margin) with its own versions of virtually every popular utility on the market. DOS 6 shipped with memory management, disk compression, backup, antivirus, and hard drive optimization. Two areas—memory management and compression—had before then spawned a cottage industry of solutions that were designed to access memory between 640K and 1MB (hard to believe, isn't it?) and help users extend their already-overstuffed 20MB (yes, I said "MB") hard drives.

Read the entire story here

Its a turning point to the extent where Microsoft sees more value offering the now debundled productivity and multimedia applications as free downloads to drive innovation. Microsoft has said that bundling Windows Mail, Photo Gallery and Movie Maker held back a great deal of innovation. This was a similar case for Windows Internet Explorer which was originally going to have new releases only with new versions of Windows, but this decision was changed after the Longhorn reset. The benefits consumers will get from their Windows experience with Windows 7 is continued updates and new features beyond what comes in the box and we can even see this happening already with app's like Windows Live Photo Gallery which succeeded the initial release that came with Vista, featuring better integration with Live Services like Windows Live Spaces and social networks like Flickr and FaceBook.

Microsoft bundled those features in DOS at the time out of necessity, its what users wanted, not what the Company thought they might need. I personally wouldn't mind if Windows Live Wave 3 came with Windows 7 to save me the time of downloading and installing it. But, there is a balance being created here. Its satisfying end users and third party developers to really compete on their merits.

Bloggers Ed Bott and Long Zheng have dugg up information about when the next version of Windows, 7 might be released to manufacturering. Of course, the speculated date given is no surprise, 'November 2009'. Microsoft has always promised that Windows 7 would be available by late 2009, even Steve Ballmer identified this earlier in the year. Here is a quote from CNET back in May of this year:

Quote: Update: Ballmer says it will come in late 2009. Corporate VP Julie Larson-Green demonstrated the multitouch technology, painting with several fingers at the same time to show how it can process not just touch, but multiple simultaneous input. Read the entire story here 

Mary Jo foley had more to say on the date itself, by getting a much clearer response from Company officials at the time:

Quote: When I asked Microsoft for yet another clarification on Windows 7’s ship date last night, executives said the difference between Ballmer’s latest pronouncement and Microsoft’s stated timeframe was “really only a matter of a month or two.” Remember; Microsoft’s Windows team’s new mantra is underpromise and overdeliver. It looks better to say you will ship in 2010 and actually deliver in 2009 than it does to say 2009 and have your due date slip into the next year. Read the entire story here

Even Bill Gates said it before his retirement that there would be a new version of Windows coming next year. A lot of this regurgitated news stems from revelations that there will not be a WinHEC conference next year. Which makes sense, since WinHEC basically provides IHVs with information around hardware and software synergies for the Windows platform coming in the near future. All of that information will be revealed this year at WinHEC 2008, there basically would be nothing new to discuss and I'm sure Microsoft will be too busy wrapping up development to start communication about the release after Windows 7.

ASUS manufacturer of the Eee PC, noted that support for multi-touch wouldn't happen until Windows 7 hits market.

Resources:
Windows 7 to arrive next year, says Bill Gates - Engadget
Windows 7: Now a late 2009 deliverable (again)

A lot of interesting information and rumors were revealed this week about Microsoft's next major revision of Windows client. Here's a recap!

Windows 7’s Official Name revealed – Windows 7!

Yes people, it has been confirmed today on the Windows Vista Team Blog by Mike Nash. Windows 7’s final name is the codename that has been in use since since it was revealed.

Why did Microsoft choose ‘7’ – Mike Nash Explains

Microsoft shares their official explanation on why it was chosen. Surprisingly a lot of the thoughts I expressed were also noted in Microsoft’s post. Key points to take away include: its the 7th major release of Windows, Compatibility, delivering great improvements on top of Vista.

A better explanation on how Microsoft reached version 7

The hoopla over Windows 7’s version continues! I want to get this right and it looks like Ed Bott has the best explanation so far about how Microsoft came to reach the 7th release of Windows. The kernel version seems to be what is confusing persons the most. Because Vista is NT 6.0 and Windows 7 is NT 6.1 not NT 7.0 persons are getting confused. The key as Ed notes is not include the consumer Windows 1x, 2x, 3x and 9x releases.

Is 'Instant On' coming for Windows 7?

A post over at CNET News discusses a survey made available to certain individuals suggesting the use of a fast way to start Windows. The survey makes note of changes to how Windows would function such as in ability to change Windows configuration, run certain applications.

Thoughts on the ‘new’ Windows name

Today was a surprise for many, depending on who you talk to. Microsoft chose a low key but effective channel to announce the final branding for the next version of Windows, Windows 7. We in the Windows Enthusiast community have been accustomed to codenames then a final christening sometime during the products technical testing. I have been discussing the moniker for Windows 7 for a good while now and others in the community such as Ed Bott brought the topic up just last week.

Native .VHD Support confirmed for Windows 7 – Server version

Long Zheng posted about Microsoft supporting .VHD natively in Windows, but its looking more like a Server only feature this time around.

Paul Thurrott’s Windows 7 FAQ Update

Windows Platform Enthusiast Blogger and Community Resource, Paul Thurrott has updated his informative Frequently Asked Questions about the next release of Windows, 7. Revealed are some additional information about the deep end user functionality and user interface features being built in.

Other interesting non Windows 7 news throughout the week:

Microsoft Silverlight 2 – Available
Up Next: Windows Vista SP2

Previously:
The Week in ‘7’ – Oct. 7 – 10. 2008.

From ActiveWin.com

The ActiveWin Team is proud to present part one of our Windows Server 2008 Review. In it we take a look at some old and new technologies. Some common scenarios such as promoting Windows Server 2008 to a Domain Controller, install and configure DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), DNS (Domain Name System) and IIS 7.0 (Internet Information Server). Windows Server 2003’s revolving theme was doing more with less; Server 2008 is about strengthening that foundation and providing new opportunities to take advantage of the latest in processing power and hot new technologies like virtualization.

Check it out here

From CNET News

A post over at CNET News discusses a survey made available to certain individuals suggesting the use of a fast way to start Windows. The survey makes note of changes to how Windows would function such as in ability to change Windows configuration, run certain applications.

Quote:

"The concept is called 'Instant On.' Instant On takes your computer from being completely powered down or turned off to being usable for a few specific activities in a very short amount of time," according to excerpts from the survey posted by Engadget."

Read the rest here