Windows (Longhorn) - giant strides?

PC World has an article on their experience with what may be the next version of Windows (Longhorn.)

The first points I noticed were as follows:

1) They have a wonderfully communicative graphic icon introducing the article.

2) The first ‘oh! ah!’ item was simply regarding another flashy desktop from Microsoft. Flashy desktops do _NOT_ make a new operating system!!! It makes for a busier computer (read: you need a faster computer to run it) because it’s doing all the drawing of that new cute theme.

If you want flashy desktops, go here, here or here for example. And you won’t have to pay $200.00 for them either… But even if you do have to pay for them - YOU’LL OWN THEM, unlike the temporary license you’ll buy from Microsoft for the priviledge of running their theme - until it expires.

3) The small portion of WinFS that will be left in the next version of Windows (Longhorn) will allow users to be even stupider about their computer, as it will show them all of specific types of files (such as pictures or documents) without having to do any organization whatsoever!

Most users already don’t have a clue about their computers, so what does Microsoft do? Help them learn about their computer? No… Help them organize data on their computer? No… Keep them in the dark and feed them pretty pictures? That’s the Microsoft I’ve grown to… Well, let me just say that my lack of respect for this organization continues to grow.

So, on the whole, what does it look like the new users of Windows (Longhorn) are going to be spending their hard-earned money for? A more productive, faster operating system? No.

Another Windows XP with cheap-thrill pictures that could be downloaded for free…

If you think this is “Microsoft bashing” go ahead and flame me - at least you’ll have more imagination to your flame than the new version of Windows (Longhorn) will have as a ‘new’ operating system.