Windows Fiji: Somewhere Between Vista and "Seven"
How many different editions can there be?
Tuesday, March 20, 2007 by Zoomba | Discussion: 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.
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Zoomba
Reply #2 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 9:50 AM
Reply #2 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 9:50 AM
Edited the story to clear that up. Did not mean to imply Fiji was the next major one. Nothing more than an interim release.
NeoK
Reply #3 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 11:29 AM
Reply #3 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 11:29 AM
I would have no problem waiting 4 years for the next big OS. but personally i would rather see just service packs and constant updates to Vista adding more and more things instead of a whole new OS.
Like if Fiji is this giant media center. Why just make it a big upgrade for Vista Home Premium and Ultimate users. Even if it was sold in stores as a full OS, give the Vista users the same media center upgrades. Microsoft made such a strong case in the fact that you get all these nice media things in Vista and now it seems like they're going to ditch us.
And Seven better have like a total 3d interface or some crazy hologram stuff cause i doubt anyone who buys Vista in the next 3 years is gonna want to go and upgrade again that fast.
Like if Fiji is this giant media center. Why just make it a big upgrade for Vista Home Premium and Ultimate users. Even if it was sold in stores as a full OS, give the Vista users the same media center upgrades. Microsoft made such a strong case in the fact that you get all these nice media things in Vista and now it seems like they're going to ditch us.
And Seven better have like a total 3d interface or some crazy hologram stuff cause i doubt anyone who buys Vista in the next 3 years is gonna want to go and upgrade again that fast.
Morpheous416
Reply #4 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 1:43 PM
Reply #4 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 1:43 PM
Am I the only one that smells the rotting stench of a Windows ME remake?
Astyanax
Reply #5 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 3:04 PM
Reply #5 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 3:04 PM
Windows Vista is not a Windows ME, they took 5 years to develope it, and it cost them about 10 Billion to build. Its not even in the same ballpark as ME, Vista craps all over XP. It's hands down the better of the two.
Don't blame Microsoft for horrible hardware support, blame the 3rd party that is supposed to make the drivers! *HINT* NVIDIA!
10 Billion on "another Windows ME" is a little obsured. Im sure any bugs with the OS Microsoft will clean up ASAP.
Don't blame Microsoft for horrible hardware support, blame the 3rd party that is supposed to make the drivers! *HINT* NVIDIA!
10 Billion on "another Windows ME" is a little obsured. Im sure any bugs with the OS Microsoft will clean up ASAP.
Astyanax
Reply #7 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 3:17 PM
Reply #7 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 3:17 PM
How exactly do you compare the next Media Center with Windows ME? They're two very different things.
Morpheous416
Reply #9 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 5:09 PM
Reply #9 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 5:09 PM
To clarify my point of view.....isn't to suggest that Fiji would be a "remake" of WinME.....but a possibly unnecessary need for yet another operating system.
vStyler
Reply #10 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 5:25 PM
MS has to foot the blame somewhere..They promoted and released an OS that was nowhere near ready to BE supported by the third party, personally I think it's bit them in the ass a bit.
Reply #10 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 5:25 PM
Don't blame Microsoft for horrible hardware support, blame the 3rd party that is supposed to make the drivers! *HINT* NVIDIA!
MS has to foot the blame somewhere..They promoted and released an OS that was nowhere near ready to BE supported by the third party, personally I think it's bit them in the ass a bit.
Corky_O
Reply #11 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 5:45 PM
Reply #11 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 5:45 PM
Vista SP1 sounds more interesting to me.
Perhaps the third party developers will have a chance to catch up. As it is, I have two OEM versions of Vista Home Premium sitting in a box because the performance of all my hardware and software running on XP Pro blows it away.
While I will inevitably install Windows Vista on the desktop next year, I find that exploring the iMac running Leopard is currently much more attractive if I have to spend a large amount of money on upgrading a machine and software (e.g., Adobe CS3, Video card, etc.).
I like MS just fine, but I grow tired of chasing the next corner. 
DesignCaddy
Reply #12 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 5:51 PM
Reply #12 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 5:51 PM
Apple turns around a new os every year and a half because they're releasing what would in a windows world amount to (free) service packs. Granted however, that OSx moves in a clear, positive direction each time while windows is more patches and updates. The core however stays the same.
I'd rather vista stay with us for the next 7 years in one- or two-year interval service pack upgrades which add improved functionality and better performance. Why not, when we've all lasted so well on XP? Why reinvent the wheel, especially if Vista was truly such a leap in backbone over XP? I'd certainly be disappointed if they released a whole new OS without fixing say, UAC first.
A media center specific OS? Save it for the xbox 720
For home computer based media centers, thats what vista home premium is for.
Set your next major milestone on blackcomb - the 'reinvention of the computer', as its been referred to.
I'd rather vista stay with us for the next 7 years in one- or two-year interval service pack upgrades which add improved functionality and better performance. Why not, when we've all lasted so well on XP? Why reinvent the wheel, especially if Vista was truly such a leap in backbone over XP? I'd certainly be disappointed if they released a whole new OS without fixing say, UAC first.
A media center specific OS? Save it for the xbox 720
For home computer based media centers, thats what vista home premium is for.
Set your next major milestone on blackcomb - the 'reinvention of the computer', as its been referred to.
Kamafucktra
Reply #13 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 7:10 PM
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".
I'm a bit annoyed at this news since I thought Microsoft was finally moving away from releasing Media Center separately. I'd be more annoyed if I'd already purchased Vista, but I guess this is just another reason to hold off.
Reply #13 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 7:10 PM
To clarify my point of view.....isn't to suggest that Fiji would be a "remake" of WinME.....but a possibly unnecessary need for yet another operating system.
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".
I'm a bit annoyed at this news since I thought Microsoft was finally moving away from releasing Media Center separately. I'd be more annoyed if I'd already purchased Vista, but I guess this is just another reason to hold off.
Astyanax
Reply #14 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 7:52 PM
Riiiight, and that explains why nVidia's display drivers are horrid and ATi's are miles ahead?
Don't make excuses for them man.
Reply #14 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 7:52 PM
MS has to foot the blame somewhere..They promoted and released an OS that was nowhere near ready to BE supported by the third party, personally I think it's bit them in the ass a bit.
Riiiight, and that explains why nVidia's display drivers are horrid and ATi's are miles ahead?
Don't make excuses for them man.
vStyler
Reply #15 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 8:24 PM
Reply #15 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 8:24 PM
No excuse.. MS knew Tons of companies werent ready.. or even close and still released so I say its partly their fault.. I could care less about Nvidia or the particular 3rd parties. Hell I have an nvidia. 
Astyanax
Reply #16 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 9:37 PM
Reply #16 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 9:37 PM
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
Reply #17 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 9:50 PM
Reply #17 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 9:50 PM
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.
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
Reply #18 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 10:57 PM
Reply #18 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 10:57 PM
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
Reply #19 Wednesday, March 21, 2007 8:49 AM
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.
Reply #19 Wednesday, March 21, 2007 8:49 AM
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.
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
Reply #20 Wednesday, March 21, 2007 9:07 AM
Reply #20 Wednesday, March 21, 2007 9:07 AM
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.
By the way the link in the article wasn't working.
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Reply #1 Tuesday, March 20, 2007 9:39 AM