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Microsoft considering update dubbed 'XP Reloaded'
Last modified: February 26, 2004, 12:55 PM PST
By Ina Fried
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Microsoft is considering updating Windows XP before it releases Longhorn, a
major overhaul of the industry's dominant operating system that is not
expected for about two years.
Issuing an update to XP would represent a significant shift for the software
maker, which for months has insisted that it had no plans to create a
separate version of Windows before Longhorn. A company executive confirmed
to CNET News.com on Thursday that Microsoft is now discussing a product
internally referred to as "Windows XP Reloaded."
An upgrade would follow Windows XP Service Pack 2, a security-oriented
upgrade that is slated to arrive before midyear. The features that would be
included in an update are still under discussion, Windows lead product
manager Greg Sullivan said in an interview.
"Calling it an interim release is overstating the current plan," Sullivan
said. "We are exploring ways to add value to Windows XP."
However, Directions on Microsoft analyst Rob Helm said that any new version
of Windows is likely to slow Longhorn's arrival.
"There's one Windows team and there's one core group of people (developing
it)," Helm said. "If they do plan an interim release, it will have an impact
on the schedule. How much will depend on what's in it."
Helm said that Windows XP Reloaded sounds like what he would term an interim
release. "To my mind, a service pack with features that has the potential to
impact compatibility is an interim release."
Helm did say that one option available to Microsoft is to try and boost some
of the surrounding programs that are bundled with Windows while making fewer
changes to the core OS. Such a "feature pack" could mean less of a delay.
In addition to adding further question to the already uncertain timing of
Longhorn, Helm said Microsoft's constantly changing release schedule makes
it harder for customers to plan.
"In the consumer market it's less important, but in the enterprise market,
it's really important for Microsoft to provide a roadmap--and not just of
major big-bang releases, but also of service packs. Right now that road map
is still pretty hazy."
Microsoft's consideration of an interim release surfaced earlier Thursday on
the site WinInfo.
Executives have said for some time that there was no major release of
Windows planned before Longhorn. At the Windows Hardware Engineering
Conference in May, Senior Vice President Will Poole said: "Don't expect an
interim release."
Poole said at that time that Longhorn would ship in 2005. Microsoft later
backed away from that date, saying only that it would ship when it is ready.
However, until now, Microsoft has reiterated that no new versions of Windows
were planned before Longhorn.
Delaying Longhorn could further benefit Linux, considered the chief threat
to the dominance of Windows, said RedMonk analyst Stephen O'Grady.
"With any delay of Longhorn, Linux desktop advocates have potentially gained
an extension to the window for getting their respective offerings
established within enterprises," O'Grady said. Already, analysts had
cautioned that the long time frame between Windows XP's debut and the
arrival of Longhorn represented perhaps the best opportunity for Linux to
make headway on the desktop.
"While Longhorn's promise of an overhauled user interface and database/file
system blend will undoubtedly set the bar for desktops when it's ultimately
released, the longer it's delayed the more time Linux has to get a foothold
in the desktop market."
The release of Longhorn is seen as critical for Microsoft, with the company
having tied new versions of Office and much of its server software to
coincide with the new OS, which Chairman Bill Gates has called the biggest
advance since Windows 95.
Sullivan said that the possible release of XP Reloaded does not indicate a
delay for Longhorn. Microsoft has not said when that OS will ship, but
analysts have said they expect it in late 2005 or 2006.
It is too soon to say if any development resources will be needed for XP
Reloaded beyond the current teams working on Windows XP maintenance, he
added.
The move comes as Microsoft is looking for ways to ensure that existing
Windows XP users upgrade to the more secure Service Pack 2 code base.
"We're very interested in having as many people as possible--new PC buyers
and installed base--take advantage of the work we've done in SP 2."
News.com's Stephen Shankland contributed to this report.
Last modified: February 26, 2004, 12:55 PM PST
By Ina Fried
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Microsoft is considering updating Windows XP before it releases Longhorn, a
major overhaul of the industry's dominant operating system that is not
expected for about two years.
Issuing an update to XP would represent a significant shift for the software
maker, which for months has insisted that it had no plans to create a
separate version of Windows before Longhorn. A company executive confirmed
to CNET News.com on Thursday that Microsoft is now discussing a product
internally referred to as "Windows XP Reloaded."
An upgrade would follow Windows XP Service Pack 2, a security-oriented
upgrade that is slated to arrive before midyear. The features that would be
included in an update are still under discussion, Windows lead product
manager Greg Sullivan said in an interview.
"Calling it an interim release is overstating the current plan," Sullivan
said. "We are exploring ways to add value to Windows XP."
However, Directions on Microsoft analyst Rob Helm said that any new version
of Windows is likely to slow Longhorn's arrival.
"There's one Windows team and there's one core group of people (developing
it)," Helm said. "If they do plan an interim release, it will have an impact
on the schedule. How much will depend on what's in it."
Helm said that Windows XP Reloaded sounds like what he would term an interim
release. "To my mind, a service pack with features that has the potential to
impact compatibility is an interim release."
Helm did say that one option available to Microsoft is to try and boost some
of the surrounding programs that are bundled with Windows while making fewer
changes to the core OS. Such a "feature pack" could mean less of a delay.
In addition to adding further question to the already uncertain timing of
Longhorn, Helm said Microsoft's constantly changing release schedule makes
it harder for customers to plan.
"In the consumer market it's less important, but in the enterprise market,
it's really important for Microsoft to provide a roadmap--and not just of
major big-bang releases, but also of service packs. Right now that road map
is still pretty hazy."
Microsoft's consideration of an interim release surfaced earlier Thursday on
the site WinInfo.
Executives have said for some time that there was no major release of
Windows planned before Longhorn. At the Windows Hardware Engineering
Conference in May, Senior Vice President Will Poole said: "Don't expect an
interim release."
Poole said at that time that Longhorn would ship in 2005. Microsoft later
backed away from that date, saying only that it would ship when it is ready.
However, until now, Microsoft has reiterated that no new versions of Windows
were planned before Longhorn.
Delaying Longhorn could further benefit Linux, considered the chief threat
to the dominance of Windows, said RedMonk analyst Stephen O'Grady.
"With any delay of Longhorn, Linux desktop advocates have potentially gained
an extension to the window for getting their respective offerings
established within enterprises," O'Grady said. Already, analysts had
cautioned that the long time frame between Windows XP's debut and the
arrival of Longhorn represented perhaps the best opportunity for Linux to
make headway on the desktop.
"While Longhorn's promise of an overhauled user interface and database/file
system blend will undoubtedly set the bar for desktops when it's ultimately
released, the longer it's delayed the more time Linux has to get a foothold
in the desktop market."
The release of Longhorn is seen as critical for Microsoft, with the company
having tied new versions of Office and much of its server software to
coincide with the new OS, which Chairman Bill Gates has called the biggest
advance since Windows 95.
Sullivan said that the possible release of XP Reloaded does not indicate a
delay for Longhorn. Microsoft has not said when that OS will ship, but
analysts have said they expect it in late 2005 or 2006.
It is too soon to say if any development resources will be needed for XP
Reloaded beyond the current teams working on Windows XP maintenance, he
added.
The move comes as Microsoft is looking for ways to ensure that existing
Windows XP users upgrade to the more secure Service Pack 2 code base.
"We're very interested in having as many people as possible--new PC buyers
and installed base--take advantage of the work we've done in SP 2."
News.com's Stephen Shankland contributed to this report.