The Windows Vista successor operating system may be just in embryonic phase, but Microsoft is indeed working on the product. Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer not only revealed
that Windows Vista will not be the last big operating system to come out from Redmond but also that the company's strategy currently involves continuing making available versions of the Windows platform.

In an interview with USA Today, Steve Ballmer dismissed the hypothesis that Windows Vista will not be followed by another big release. "People like to write that; I don't know why. Nothing we've said should cause people to think that way. There will be a Vista. There will be a Vista plus one. There will be a Vista plus two, plus three," Ballmer said.

In the months both before and after the Windows Vista launch, analysts have speculated that the operating system business strategy might be changed in the sense that customers will no longer look to adopt Vista-size products but modular alternatives instead. Microsoft failed to confirm such scenarios and stated that the company will remain loyal to the Windows platform.

Steve Ballmer, as well the rest of Microsoft are still not commenting on the availability date for the next release of the Windows operating system. "That I won't share with you. Not because we're not hard at work on that; I want to let the team do their job, figure out what the release looks like. I guarantee you it won't be four or five years," Ballmer said on the launch date. Still, Microsoft is targeting a two-year timeframe for the upcoming version of the Windows platform.

well,whatever that guy says, it had better be a good major update: vista is SLOW, or so reports say.but looks good.

Vista being slow really just depends on what computer you have. Like on my home PC, I have 2GB of RAM, a AMD Athlon X2 3800+, Asus A8NSLI16X-Deluxe, and about 450GB of hd space or so. It runs quite well. But it seems like it can be quite picky. I tried to put RC1 on my secondary PC, with a Celeron D 320 2.4GHz, 1GB of RAM, and an Asus P4S88D-E Deluxe

Well guys, Vista is slow if you have lower than it's requirements, especially the ultimate edition.
I agree to Matt, it is really depends on what specifications of your computer you have.

thanks... well, i guess buying a vista wont be bad... yay!!!

I think it's also good to look on the internet for people with the same computer that you have, and see what their experience is with it. Vista seems like it can be a bit picky about hardware.

BTW, I'm spliting this topic, as I think it belongs in the Windows Vista section.

Vista is as slow, in many instances, as you care to have it. A great deal of the lack of speed is contributed by security and safety features.
I run Vista ultimate on a 3.2 cpu with 2gigs of ram. My graphics card is a hopeless ATI 9600 pro (256)
I have two identical coputers, on of which still has XP installed. This was originally for Beta testing purposes. I have heavily customised both OS's. Except in minor, and unimportant instances, I can detect no, or only minor, speed differences.
I must admit that, removing features which Vista/Microsoft boast about, rather obviates its value.
Bottom line is, though, that the only noticeable improvement in speed is with internet use., which in my case is most assuredly faster in Vista.
I do not use internet gaming and am not too familiar with media applications, so cannot comment on them.

thx!! never thought that many replies would come!!

The thing with Vista is Microsoft is pushing for beter, higher end hard ware becoming the new standard. I feel that is not working out so well on Windows part because alot of people are nowing learning more and more about the open sources linux world. I feel Vista is a strong operating system... but it's not for me.

I think you are correct, Snake. If we want nicer interfaces and all that, the computers will have to be faster to compute the stuff.