Microsoft project names
Eric Gisin
I went through the nashville/detroit thread, and collected the most
plausable stuff.
Nashville (service pack 3): An upgrade for Win95 with the new integrated
Explorer/Internet Explorer/Active Desktop/Mail/News/Conferencing, and
the new exchange client (now called Windows Messaging). Will it include
ISDN, Universal Serial Bus, DirectX 2, OpenGL, Unicode?
Memphis (Windows 97): described as "merge of 95/NT", but I don't buy
this. At some point MS will replace 95 with an NT based system, is this
it? Is the hybrid 16/32-bit architecture gone? When will real-mode
driver compatibility finally bite the dust?
MS has announced common 32-bit device drivers for all Windows platforms,
where will this be introduced?
Cairo (Windows 2000?): An object-oriented successor to WinNT 4. It that
an O-O microkernel, Win32 API, or both? Any more details available?
Detroit: Post Cairo. 64-bit (on what architecture?) I can't beleive MS
plans this far ahead.
Eric Gisin, Vancouver.bc.ca -- Windows/UNIX/Internet Consulting
http://www.webhaven.com/ericg/ mailto:er...@unixg.ubc.ca
Chip Powell
I read your newsgroup message about project names. I recently went to
MS/Digital seminar on the WindowsNT 4.0 Beta2 and Windows95 environments.
The MS Engineer explained that the Internet Explorer 3.0 Beta1 release is
related to the new Microsoft Exchange server designed both for Intranet
and Internet usage. They seem to be trying to compete with Netscape and
Java heavily, though they deny they are trying to monopolize the market.
Below is some of the information I gathered at the seminar related to the
terms that you stated. I am not to sure I how accurate the information is
and how accurate your information is.
Windows 95 Service Pack2 is supposedly to have the new 32-Bit FAT system,
though they are indicating that you can only purchase it with the present
OEM's you cannot ftp or bbs it to your system. (Nice little bonus from
MS)
Window 95 Service Pack3 ????? I have to say I have never heard of this,
event at the seminar they made no mention of this future upgrade.
WindowsNT 4.0 Workstation (Code Name: Nashville) This is now in Beta2
phase and I presently have it in one of our workstations to try it out.
As appose to the Beta1 release this version has the same desktop as the
Windows95 desktop. Difference is that the Win95 is a scaled down version
designed more for lower grade computers and only 4meg of RAM is required,
8meg suggested. The WinNT 4.0 requires 12meg of RAM and suggests 16meg
for optimal performance. Other differences are Windows95 works only in PC
based systems where as WinNT works in 32-Bit x86-compatibles or RISC based
processors like PowerPC, Digital Alphas, and MIPS, it also supports
multiprocessors up two processors. Final release of this product is
scheduled for August/ September of 1996. They have integrated IE 3.0 and
an whole new integration with MS Exchange system to make the internet and
you desktop seem the same instead of them being separate. As a footnote,
if you are a IS or consultant I highly recommend the NT product, it is
powerful and is "crash proof" as appose to or beloved Win95. Oh yes, ISDN
services and PPTP services will be installed on this version of WinNT not
on Win95.
Windows ???? (Code Name: Cairo) There was some discussion about the
"Cairo" project as being the future of WinNT not of Win95, though Win95
will receive some of the same code schemes. The representative from MS
stated that the "Cairo" Beta will probably be released sometime in the
third quarter of '97. He indicated that it would have a true 64-Bit code
and FAT system capable of 3D rendering, but would not elaborate beyond
that.
Windows ???? (Code Name: Memphis) They discussed it has the future Win95
environment to follow the Nashville release of WinNT 4.0 but would not
elaborate on how soon it would be. Only thing he did mention is that a
Beta1 version should be released in the first quarter of 1997.
I am not to sure about Detroit though I am aware it is a successor to
Cairo project and it probably will end up a repair to Cairo problems. As
usual MS puts out these products for beta and never listens to the beta
testers feed back. The problems with Win95 beta's stayed consistent
throughout the beta and they never fixed them, ie: Registry crash, no
registry backup utility, win 3.0 programs hang or crash because of 16-Bit
code scheme, win 3.11 products that modify "ini" files and registry gets
pissed (Sound Blaster 16 drivers), and the list goes on and on. I don't
mean to be critical but MS has a crappie product and has no good excuse,
so I have every reason to complain.
Well hope this information has been useful. Please respond back if you
would like.
Sincerely,
Chip Powell
Senior System Administrator
Director of Computer Services
Lincoln Memorial University
(pow...@centuryinter.net)
423-869-6369
Tim Cassedy-Blum
fall. Just wanted to clear all this up.
> "Chip Powell" <pow...@centuryinter.net> wrote in article
<01bb6422.beb020a0$0ba641ce@supervisor>...
Dan Guisinger (QWL)
No it wasn't!
I'm a beta tester.
It is actually called the Internet AddOn Pack.
It is similar to the Plus Pack!, but its very Internet oriented.
It has the Active Desktop, IE 4.0, News & Mail, NetMeetining, ect......
It probably also has driver updates and updates many system components.
From my understanding, Memphis is Windows 97/98, and it uses all of WinNT
Kernel
Cairo, from what I remember, was either the next version of NT, or the
merger even farther down the line.
--
-=Dan Guisinger=-
Quantum Warp Laboratories
Combat 2045
> "Tim Cassedy-Blum" <tcb...@idsonline.com> wrote in article
<01bb647b.10c324c0$9e80...@tcblum.idsonline.com>...
Eric Gisin
I've gathered more infomation from articles on the Web and summarized them in
http://www.webhaven.com/ericg/Windows-Versions.htm .
Here is a crappy text version (blame MS Word) for the unconnected masses.
Versions of Microsoft Windows
Windows 95
The successor to Windows 95 will be Memphis (see below), not Nashville.
Service packs (SP) provide bug fixes without adding functionality. Details of SP1 are available
at Microsoft.
Major updates are being released as OEM services updates (OSU). OSU2 will be available to
manufacturers this summer. It has new drivers, bug fixes (service pack 1?), and a 32-bit FAT.
OSU3 should also be available this year, but no details are available. A beta version of OSU2
(by the name “Service Pack 2”) escaped from Microsoft.
Here are some details of FAT32 from beta OSU2’s general.txt (all subject to change). You
enable FAT32 with the new fdisk. If enabled, all new partitions greater than 512MB will use
FAT32. Here are the cluster sizes used by FAT32 (note - they mean drive size, not partition
size) -
Drive size Cluster size
----------- ------------
<260 MB 512 bytes
260 MB - 8 GB 4 kilobytes (KB)
8 MB - 16 GB 8 KB
16 MB - 32 GB 16 KB
>32 GB 32 KB
The beta will not work with Plus!’s Drivespace 3. Windows NT/4 will not support FAT32.
Windows NT/4
Beta 2 is currently out, and as usual you can find it on Warez sites. I won’t say much since the
PeeCee press is currently covering it.
Upon its release this August or September, the Windows 95/NT merge will be halfway
complete. The user interface will be the same, the APIs will be fairly close, but the registry and
kernel will still be quite different. Expect a Windows 95 upgrade to add more APIs like DirectX
2, OpenGL, but probably no Unicode support.
There is a rumour that the new Explorer interface will be included (see next section).
Nashville
Also known as WebView, PageView, and Internet Explorer 4, Nashville merges the Windows
Explorer with Internet Explorer 3. It is rumoured Exchange will also be integrated. There is a
picture the UI in the July issue of Byte (find URL). Microsoft is not saying when or how this
upgrade will be distributed, but I don’t expect it before Windows NT/4.
Speculation
There a several things Microsoft plan to release before Memphis/Cairo. I don’t have any dates
for these. If you know of anything else in the works, let me know.
A new common driver model for all version of Windows. Windows 95 is using user-mode
multimedia drivers and kernel mode Virtual Device Drivers (VxDs). Windows NT uses HAL-
based kernel mode drivers, using the same PEF format as 32-bit EXE/DLLs. Windows 95 also
uses the Windows NT mini-port drivers for SCSI and LAN adapters. Microsoft wants to unify
all drivers to use an NT-based class/port/miniport device driver model. There is a white-paper
on Microsoft (sorry, I can’t find it anymore).
Support for the Universal Serial Bus. Rumour has it that manufactures are waiting for driver
support from Microsoft, and Microsoft is waiting for sample devices from the manufactures!
Support for 32-bit PC Card and 120MB floppy disks.
Memphis/Cairo
Microsoft plans to release the successor to Windows 95 (Memphis) and to Windows NT/4
(Cairo) at the same time in late 97, or more likely early 98. They will share a common 32-bit
kernel. This raises the question, what is the point of two product lines if they have a common
core? Will it just be packaging and licensing differences, like Windows NT Workstation and
Server? I think so.
The main buzzword for Cairo is Object-Oriented. I don’t know what they mean by that, other
than the file systems will allow properties associated with files, but not stored as part of the file.
Detroit
Successor to Cairo. The only rumour I’ve heard is 64-bit.
Credits
CNET News, CMP Media (InfoWeek), PC Magazine, Chip Powell
Send mail to Eric Gisin, Vancouver.bc.ca
Grant King
Dan Guisinger (QWL) wrote:
>
> No it wasn't!
> I'm a beta tester.
> It is actually called the Internet AddOn Pack.
> It is similar to the Plus Pack!, but its very Internet oriented.
> It has the Active Desktop, IE 4.0, News & Mail, NetMeetining, ect......
I received the NDA from MS for Nashville back in April, but have not yet
received the beta product. How long ago did you receive it? Also, do
you have an e-mail contact that I might write to at MS (such as the
Nashville beta coordinator) so that I can inquire of them as to whether
I am actually in the beta test group for Nashville?
Any help and/or information greatly appreciated.
--
Grant King
ggk...@mindspring.com
ggk...@msn.com
http://www.mindspring.com/~ggking3
Dan Guisinger (QWL)
I have not yet received the beta either.
Soon hopefully.
--
-=Dan Guisinger=-
Quantum Warp Laboratories
Combat 2045
Grant King <ggk...@atl.mindspring.com> wrote in article
<31E2AC...@atl.mindspring.com>...
> Dan Guisinger (QWL) wrote:
> >
> > No it wasn't!
> > I'm a beta tester.
> > It is actually called the Internet AddOn Pack.
> > It is similar to the Plus Pack!, but its very Internet oriented.
> > It has the Active Desktop, IE 4.0, News & Mail, NetMeetining, ect......
>
>