Will Longhorn deliver everything together?
C|Net | at | by Mike
With the regulatory reins somewhat loosened, Microsoft is moving ahead with plans to more tightly integrate the development of Windows, Office and its other programs. As for Longhorn, Gates did not provide a date for the final version, but other executives said the first full beta, or test, version will ship next year. The operating system will feature a new filing system as well as a revamped user interface.
"It's a big bet for us. We don't know the exact timeframe," Gates told analysts. "It's clearly many years of work we are engaging in."
One of the concerns of the tighter integration, analysts have said, is that Microsoft's product releases are increasingly tied to one another. If one product is delayed, there is a good chance that other launches could be pushed back as well.