Microsoft gets ready for Windows 8

[Mark]

Looks like that Microsoft is already preparing for Windows 8..

Windows 7 might still not be officially complete. And Microsoft is laying people off. But the company's already gearing up to launch its next operating system: Windows 8.
Early job postings indicate at least one focus for Windows 8 will be systems and data management.

The company has advertised for developers and testers to deliver "major improvements" in Windows' File Server.

Indications are Microsoft's looking to make management of files easier across wide area networks and the internet and to make WinFS capable of scaling to more machines than you get with Windows Server 2008 R2 and even with the as-yet unfinished Windows 7.
This would build on file sharing in applications such as Windows Live Messenger and the company's online meeting system Windows Meeting Spaces.
"We will also soon be starting major improvements for Windows 8 where we will be including innovative features which will revolutionize file access in branch offices," Microsoft said in an advert on its site for a lead test software development engineer.
In the ad for a software development engineer in testing, Microsoft hinted its current testing infrastructure does not meet the kinds of scalability it's got in mind for Windows 8. The new recruit will be tasked with building the new test suite with an eye on scalability and performance.
You can see the ads here and here. There's more on directions for Windows here.
Separately, Microsoft's caught up to the internet age and enabling users to access MSN instant messenger without requiring users to have the messenger installer on their PC and without having to separately log into Windows Live Messenger. Users will get MSN as part of Hotmail, similar to Yahoo! Messenger in Yahoo! Mail and Gtalk in Gmail.
Microsoft was one of the first to offer free web mail with Hotmail, which it acquired, but the service has developed in fits and starts over the years. It has lagged on not de-activating unused accounts, search and giving a decent amount of storage.

[Source]

[Ashraf]

Windows 8? Huh? Windows 7 is the last of the Window series. Unless Microsoft changed its plan of course...

[haddon]

They should focus on releasing windows 7 first...

[hellnoire]

Indeed. If Windows 7 doesn't become a smash hit like XP SP2... people are going to start going to Linux from what I'm hearing.

And before anyone says that's not possible, stop and think for a second. Ubuntu is the most popular choice in Linux distros. Not among "neckbeards" (geeks that know all) but common people. My dad's company, the company I work for, and every computer in my house will be running Ubuntu if XP is dropped with 7 being as bad as Vista.

Yes they solved UAC issues. Yes, driver issues are less of one now. But stop and think: all the digital rights management uproar should have Microsoft pulling back from that, and tell the rights holders to get a life. Instead, they're following the same route, looking for Nirvana. They aren't going to find it by treating customers like sh*t.

Microsoft should be ready for more people to jump ship if they:

1. Price themselves out of the market
2. Refuse to support the customers in a 'human' way
3. Ignore the increasing threat of Macs and Linux
4. Keep ignoring the EU's lawsuits on anti-competition

And if they release more then three versions, I know of several people that will be upset.

@Haddon, they should focus on fixing VISTA first, before even thinking about Windows 7. It makes no sense to me why they don't.

[blackcobra]

Windows 8 with 8 Versions..
Seems, Microsoft is eager in being kicked out of the market ASAP.

[hellnoire]

Seems so, I'm afraid.

Looks like I made the wrong choice to come back to Windows

[haddon]

Looks like they are already giving up on vista, well for me at least, i will stick to XP untill windows 7, screw vista

[LunarWolf]

They are giving up on vista since vista receive lukewarm response. If they get started on windows 8, I am sure they going to dig their own grave with windows 7 since how can you move on to another project and left the current project hanging?

[blackrose]

Stupid MS, they cannot make 1 product good and planning to launch another, Gates though gone he is company is working still in the traditionals style.

[muaan]

LOL.The world is gonna soon give up on ms as blackrose said they cant even make an step right how could they progress???lol.Lots of ms users gonna quit using ms.If ms keeps on acting like that.