What features does the next version of Windows need?

from WinCustomize Forums
What are the KEY features you think that the new major version of Windows need?

Here is a short list of mine:

* SQL based file system

* Full .NET integration with central services that are NOT web based but have all kinds of interfaces (i.e. I speak into my PocketPC 2004 and it converts it to text and puts it under "Notes" on my Passport .NET account where I can access it through the web (worst case), through software, or via a DesktopX NG object.

* Distributed computing where I can see my network and if I have a 100megabit or faster connection to my network I can seamlessly have CPU intensive processes thrown to compute onto them as well if I have priviledges on those machines.

* Seamless Terminal Server - I want my Visual Studio Compiler that is displayed on my machine here to execute fully on my mega machine in the server room and for this to be trivial to set up.

* Document the new hooking APIs for lighter faster desktop enhancements.

That's for starters. What would you add?
10,814 views 30 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Windows is good enuff for me as it is right now. (windows 2K)
Only thing I'm missing is a coffee "slot"...
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have a coffee slot. I press the button on my case and the cup holder comes out.
Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Security, security, security.... Bill Gates should promote himself from CEO to CHPO or Chief Hole Plugging Officer.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sounds 'erotic'...
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
OMG! I never thought I'd see the words "Bill Gates" and "erotic" in the same discussion.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Anyway... So what other than security?
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
1) A shell that doesn't crash.
2) Decent driver support from companies (this INCLUDES you ATI)
3) Pretty alpha blended windows like the ones in Gnome that are still easy to read. Alpha blended windows in Windows are hard to read.
4) True to the past activities of Microsoft, include their own version of WindowBlinds, DesktopX and CursorXP into the OS, denying that their ideas are stolen from Stardock and bagging all the profits for themselves.
5) 25% Commission on all sales worldwide for AJ.
6) No wizards. Not a single one. Everything in advanced mode by default please.
7) A default theme that's not hideously ugly and doesn't sear my retinas in the way that Luna blue/green did.
8) Make it impossible to have desktop icons. Any experienced user that buys a new machine formats and installs an OEM version of the OS straight away, but it would be nice to buy a machine without 500 AOL icons already on the desktop.
9) Full *nix, MacOS and X-Box compatibility.

That's all I can think of for the moment. Please note Mr. Ballmer, these ideas are (c)2001 of me, if you want more a favourable settlement can be reached.

Cheers,

AJ.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yes, most definatly full inter-OS compatibility, for sure, including font support.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Oh yes...

1. Definitely interOS compatibility, time to give consumers a choice
2. An installer that allows you to select what you install, so you can get rid of all the bloat
3. No IE-integration, hell, no IE at all
4. Boot time under twenty seconds with flash boot screens, mmmmmmm
5. Windowshade built-in
6. Freeform skinnable ofcourse, death to rectangular windows
7. Modularity, so I can create my own programs out of the bits and pieces of others
8. Filesystem allowing multiple parents and aliases
9. As mentioned by others, full network windowing capabilities
10. Drive names instead of C:, D: etcetera, like on *nix
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
How about -->

1) a completely user-defined environment OS where you could shift your computer's resource management to and from certain tasks on the fly - say, donate the bulk of your CPU to rendering filters in PhotoShop? I don't like having to hit ctrl+alt+del, processes, set-priority to get 1 program to realize it is going to need a bunch more of the CPU than an "average" program. (Yes, I know you can set RAM in prefs in PS, but that's just not enough fine control dammit! - especially if its going to lead to a crash down the road.

2) I want to see an ability for desktop visualizations which are currently resource intensive (cursorxp, cleartype, streched 300+Kb wallpapers, resolutions above 1024x768, multiple desktops, etc) to have support on graphics cards - not constantly sapping the CPU. (Lots of people now have 16Mb+ graphics cards and most of the time the cards never get worked.)

IMHO Microsoft has PAWNED OFF ITS RESPONSIBILITY to make its own GUI 2D effects widely supportable by most graphics card manufacturers for far, far too long.

When you heap on top of this the fact that these companies must pay through the nose to get MS certified certs on updated gfx card drivers its a wonder that we have any drivers at all.

(pause rant)

(drinks a glass of water)

3) and oh yeah... open source code.

- ash
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, craeonics is wrong. I run X~P now and if there was no IE, there would be no windows. Ahhhhh. I can't bear it.

But windows needs a dock!
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
an OS that is STABLE!!!
so that when i am foolish enough to try and use winrar, my win2k box wont spontaniously reboot!

better (or at least removable) apps. if windows *must* come bundled with a load of apps, then at least make them useful, or removable, or both.

a classic example, notepad under win98 doesnt even support ctrl_s. that possible use to anyone is this?
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
proper periferals for use at work!

/me wants a great big panic button
say, about 8 inches across, a nice shade of read, so that i can hit it with which ever limb is most convinent, or in really bad cases, just head-but it. because of this it should be soft! my desk is hard, so it hurts when i head but it

when i hit this button, windows *must* imideatly save all open work into at least 3 recoverable backup's, even if blue screen of death is occuring (a common factor in leading to pressing the button to begin with)
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I agree with u feline, if microsoft could make an anti-crash plugin for windows or even a version of windows withoyt the possibility of crashing.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Also what OS is most stable?

My answer is Win98 SE on my new PC only ever crashed ONCE
Second comes Red Hat Linux, only 4 crashed ( am good at breaking fings )
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The most stable OS has got to be UNIX - pick a flavor, pick any flavor.

I've used Sun Solaris, HPUX, SPARC, IRIX, FreeBSD, and Linux and these are but a few among many flavors of UNIX.

BTW - for those who have not taken "the plunge" but want to get into UNIX, its totally worth it IMHO.

Linux (which has a few GUIs to choose from if you need one) and FreeBSD both work on most PC's and generally have the most programs ported/the most developers writing software for upcoming versions.

Additionally, for web artists/skinners, there is a program which is extremely similar to Adobe PhotoShop for Linux called GIMP which is 100% free and there are literally hundreds of freely downloadable filters, brush packs, etc for it.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
just get cygwin and gimp for windows

all the power of UNIX, with all the games and instabilites of windows! what more could you possibly want?
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have to admit that XP is the best all arownd OS yet IMO but I am sure that I will be thinking of maney inprovments as time goes by, but for now XP has almost everything I can think of, and stardock supplies everthing thats missing.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
XP is good. Doesn't need a panic button.
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i dont have XP at work
anyway, it is normaly work that nesecitates the panic button, and what is done with the OS, as opposed to the OS its self.

of course, win98 deserves a panic button on principle, especially when i keep on running out of resorces