1.]The Inevitable Future of Our Operating Systems

Decade after decade, year after year, quarter after quarter: the latest technological inventions continue to taunt the world's starvation for even newer and better. We think computers. Indeed, numerous components create the computer; but what do you come home to, to look at, to feel, and to experience? Simply put: the operating systems' GUIs and subsidiary applications. Microsoft's Windows has no doubt been the towering force in the consumer operating system market for quite some time: primarily due to its newbie-friendly ease of installation and its simplicity of use among the average person. Now, if we were to compare Windows to the growing minority (ie. Linux, MacOS), we wouldn't have as much complexity on our hands as we used to.If we were to say Windows has implemented a multitude of server- side features into their newest corporate operating systems and drastically increased stability, to measure up to Linux; then we could also have to say that the MacOS has fruited up their GUI to measure up to Windows XP; or we could state the offspring of Linux, LindowsOS, has had a barely-successful run at merging both Linux and Windows together. GUI's are becoming more user-friendly, being crammed with dancing paperclips and pretty little scroll bars: eye candy. Microsoft has (for a long time) been creating applications for Apple's MacOS and they've grown on some of Apple's technology; one thing I've noticed is the silent adaptation of the scorching new FireWire. MacOS has developed their own music distribution service, Linux has - well - Linux has been Linux: don't we see where this is going? Operating systems are gradually becoming more alike, succumbing to the fellow media and its rivals, usurped by standards: some good, some bad. Believe it or not, the death of Windows was declared quite some time ago, and who knows what revelation awoke it from its slumber? After the release of Microsoft Windows 3.1, Bill Gates, past CEO and president of Microsoft, decided to halt all further labor on the Windows operating system. He essentially stated: "Enough. After Windows 3.1 we're starting something new, a new platform must be prepared." Obviously, this didn't come to pass. The triumph of Windows and its subsequent revisions were unrivaled in sales by any other operating system of the decade in the consumer market. Windows, Linux, MacOS, LindowsOS, FreeBSD: so many operating systems, so many diverse futures. As the new wave of 64-bit processors take over (with their multi-platform support, reverse compatibility mode and blazing speeds), we will see our beloved operating systems build upon themselves, synchronized with the development of the 64-bit processor. Microsoft has already finished most of its coding efforts on the new Windows 64-bit platform; Apple has already demonstrated their MacOS running beautifully on their new G5 machines with their own new wider-bus procs.Sure, we've doubled our bus size and ignited true supercomputer possibilities, but as previously stated, our operating systems must continue to grow as well. Microsoft has already released the names of their future operating systems: Windows Longhorn, followed by Windows Blackcomb. Sure, we may not fully know what they're about yet: but to declare two completely different revisions, with their own platform and new names, well. that's a lot to promise.The future for both our operating systems and processors look bright: with endless possibilities and a plethora of brilliant minds: creating brilliant technology to influence it all. Technology on this earth sure has its stones to walk and its sunsets to see, but it is emerging at an enormous rate: overestimated by too many.
Source: http://www.thetechlounge.com/