Microsoft: Longhorn much faster than Windows XP

As Beta 1 nears Microsoft has finally broken the silence and told us what we have all been waiting to hear: how exactly is Longhorn going to be an improvment over Windows XP.

According to Amy Stephan, a senior product manager in the Windows division at Microsoft, Longhorn will:

-- Launch applications 15 percent faster than Windows XP does
-- Boot PCs 50 percent faster than they boot currently and will allow PCs to resume from standby in two seconds
-- Allow users to patch systems with 50 percent fewer reboots required
-- Reduce the number of system images required by 50 percent
-- Enable companies to migrate users 75 percent faster than they can with existing versions of Windows.

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thats sounds like what MS said when windows 95/98 format was launched .... that was a cockup and a halve!!!

but untill linux or lindows/linspire become more user friendly, i'm stuck with xp or longhorn.... as soon as i can download it for free that is!! hehe!!!

“It inevitable Mr gates”

First of all, the linux user interface is much more well designed than windows. Installing programs is a breeze in Ubuntu through the Synaptic Package Manager. The only thing keeping Windows partitioned on my drive is iTunes for my iPod Shuffle and the ability to play Civilization III and Age of Mythology. And by the way, downloading the latest copy of Windows for free does not make you cool, or a pirate. Just because Windows sucks in many ways, does not mean that you aren't entitled to reward the software engineers for at least trying. I mean, they did their best, and although it sucks.. they tried..

Linux is so easy - it chose the wrong refresh and killed my monitor .. Never again ...

Ben

[COLOR=blue] Longhorn sounds great but does it support a file system similar to MRAMFS?

Will it also support instant on computers?

These are all questions we have to ponder as the Wintel cartel continues onward to the next phase.

Cheers!

Longhorn has repeatedly been delayed, and the feature list has been chopped. Linux is already at least as improved as the MS marketing department is saying Longhorn will be, whenever it eventually releases. Yes, we've had a long history of "less and later" releases from MS, and Longhorn is shaping up to be one of the least and latest.

All this, while today's news is the XP service pack 2 (mostly security upgrades) makes Windows XP vulnerable to a denial of service attack via remote desktop management.

Wow, monopolies sure are powerful. Otherwise, why would anyone put up with this nonsense? Really, why would you?

If you're looking for a very easy to use and powerful Linux, I'd suggest Xandros, www.xandros.com. Say bye to those Outlook worms, spyware and other security issues. It's also very good about not doing stupid stuff like putting Digital Rights Management on music you create yourself. Linux generally doesn't hassle you with user-hostile stuff like DRM. And yes, you can use your iPod with Linux, or do what I did and get a 30 GB Neuros audio player that comes up as a USB hard drive in Windows, Linux or Mac. Just say no to proprietary formats.

Yes - with another layer of databases and unasked for complexity not to mention a new complex video system. Tell me another joke - this one hurts ....

OK, let's review:
-- Launch applications 15 percent faster than Windows XP does
PhotoShop CS launches in 10 seconds on my AMD 1400+ running XP. I can count on a 1.5 second productivity increase IF Longhorn will run on an AMD 1400+

-- Boot PCs 50 percent faster than they boot currently and will allow PCs to resume from standby in two seconds
How do they know how long it takes for my network to syncronize on boot up? Is this factored in? My system boots up in 35 seconds as is, including negotiating my network. Savings: 18 seconds, once every three or four days (times between reboots)

-- Allow users to patch systems with 50 percent fewer reboots required
Is this referring to every Tuesday's joy?

-- Reduce the number of system images required by 50 percent
How is image size considered here?

-- Enable companies to migrate users 75 percent faster than they can with existing versions of Windows.
How can you be migrated 75 percent faster than you can if you don't migrate? This one makes my head hurt.

Does all this qualify as MUCH faster? I see perhaps a minute or two a week, if, and this is a big if, Longhorn will even run on an AMD 1400+ with 128 meg and a 40 gig drive. Will all my EXISTING software run on it? Or do I have to upgrade applications just to get back to square one? Is this time factored in to the "faster" equation? How about learning the new interface? They inevitably move the harware manager to some other button of some other tab of some other window than it used to be. Is this factored in, too?

How about this: make Windows XP secure so I can dump my antivirus/firewall/spyware/adware boat anchors, and my current rig will scream compared to it's current performance, without upgrading anything else.

Like THAT'S gonna happen...

Yeah I agree although its about time we had some news on Longhorn AKA "windows XP beta 1" and what they say it will do. It better stick to standards though if it gets any more user friendly (read less info and pretty buttons) I will scream! Or at least give us an option in setup that says never offer me anything other than advanced view!

you may get faster code...

but your monitors wont work with DVD's !!!

unless you have a DRM monitor, you wont be able to watch anything

ha!

please please make an alternative
(who do they work for, us or the other companies?)

Ok, so you don't need longhorn. Then there are the business (the real supporters of Microsoft.) Why? Because there aren't enough programs written for linux that do business operations. And, MACs are the business answer (unless you are a graphical arts business.)

Personally, I don't know why more businesses haven't switched over to XP. I've had it on my computer running sp2 for a year plus and haven't had any problems with spyware etc. And I'm only using Windows firewall and popup blocker. And yes, I play games all the time online. Yes, I visit warez sites. Yes, I download music. No, I don't have any problems, nor have I had to reinstall Windows once. The only reason I'm thinking about doing so is because I need to put in a new hard drive (old one a little too small.)

Windows is not the enemy. Unless you consider their pricetag. I'm sorry but $200 for XPPro. My whole computer only cost me $350 to build and it is much faster than the 1400+ above. Hopefully Bill will decide shortly that he doesn't need a couple of billion dollars more every year. After all companies pay much less for their software assurance (based on the amount of products they receive for such licensing agreements.)

From the iSubject: Microsoft claims Longhorn will be, er, faster

The only reason why its faster is they added a superfetch feature to the prefetcher. If you look at the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\Prefetcher

you will notice in windows xp

EnablePrefetcher = 3 and you will notice in windows longhorn
EnableSuperfetch = 1

Well, guess what? You can put the EnableSuperfetch = 1 in windows xp and get the same speed.

Wow, Microsoft just added a feature that was already there in xp.

snakeye

[At your own risk, Ed.]

nquirer


Regards

Linux blows!

Longhorn will end up being an incremental improvement over XP. They will probably have some nice features like their new rich graphic system and will probably have incrementally better security and speed.

Did I say linux blows! well, maybe not totally blows, it is good for running LAMP and command shells but thats about it.

The only reason it boots faster is because there is a hidden option in windows that caches what you do when you boot. You can make windows xp as fast as longhorn will be with some easy changes.

Thanks, bart5986
CEO of Chaotic Gaming

I got the chance to try out "Longhorn" windows. Very nice interface, zilch use-ability and compatibility. Mostly due to the fact that it was an alpha version. Once a stable version is realeased I think it will be worth it to upgrade. For now I'm sticking with XP.