It appears that Microsoft are changing the look and feel of Windows so that it will appear similiar to those of the new version of Office called Office 10 which is expected on release late next year.
The main feature to alter are the new drop-down menus and other interface changes include:
- A choice as to whether the user wishes to use a Personal or a Classic Start Menu. This will allow users to show or hide elements such as web browsers, e-mail programs, most recently selected documents and network connections.
- A task-oriented metaphor that lets user interfaces be organised around task centres instead of applications.
- As with Office 10, a text-to-speech interface, as Gates has predicted that PC's in the not-too-distant future will include built-in microphones.
Microsoft states that they do not have plans to ship Whistler until the second half of 2001, later than originally anticipated, even though a first beta version is expected out in October.
The next major Microsoft Windows release code-named Blackcomb, is not due until the second half of 2002. Whistler is expected to be only a minor update of Windows 2000.
Microsoft Windows Millenium (ME) version - the consumer edition of Windows is due for release in two weeks, Whistler is built on top of the same NT kernal as Windows 2000, but Windows ME is the last of Microsoft's releases that is built on top the the legacy Windows 9X.
Confused?
