Windows Fiji: Somewhere Between Vista and "Seven"

How many different editions can there be?

http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=335
from WinCustomize Forums

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.

9,294 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Fiji was never the codename of the next OS, it was Vienna.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Edited the story to clear that up.  Did not mean to imply Fiji was the next major one.  Nothing more than an interim release.
Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
How exactly do you compare the next Media Center with Windows ME? They're two very different things.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hes saying its gonna be a piece of pooo
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.  
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

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.

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.   
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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. 
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think Microsoft and the driver companies are both to blame for this mess.

Microsoft should of worked with the companies to help prepare for the vista release.

The driver companies(ie.Nvidia, Creative...) should have pressed the issue with Microsoft more.

Zubaz has a good point though why develop a program based on the beta version of Vista when Microsoft will probably change something.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Zubaz has a good point though why develop a program based on the beta version of Vista when Microsoft will probably change something.


exactly! depending on the hardware, Creative now has a relatively good set of Vista x86 and x64 drivers. I just installed My X-Fi Fatality card, on a Vista Business install, and it's fine. Microsoft did change from RC2 ro the full version, which made RC2 drivers useless to most people. Microsoft probably didn't even bother to help Creative, either.

Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just to get back on point as a regular reader of the green button and other MCE sites it has been accepted for some time that although vista media center has a new look, underneath it is still MCE2005.
The new release planned is a new version of MCE which will be an update for vista.
Remember no-one is fighting for the desktop anymore they are all fighting for pride of place on your big screen HDTV , which i'm sure the new mac minis and imacs will also be designed for.
Vista MCE is good but I'm sure the new version will have web browser and applications specifically written as a 10 foot interface so with a remote in your hand you need never leave MCE at all.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
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".


XP Media Center....was, at the beginning....not a desktop OS. Wasn't supposed to be. It was designed specifically as a media addition to your home theater system (a computer to replace your mp3/dvd/tivo...etc players including streaming). It's not so much a new OS as it is an extension of XP. The core is the same. The registry is the same....and all the GPE and Security sections are the same. One car, two different paint jobs. MCE is nothing more than a glorified menu screen for the OS.

If people get caught between two new OSes...one will suffer...it's a waste of time.