The new Windows 2006, the benefits?

[seer]

Anyhow, it's still just Windows NT. The kernel has improvments and new features, but a prettier Windows Explorer and XML-based everything doesn't really do anything for me. :-/

Hm. Have you used it ?

Even the Alpha currently "available" uses a "explorer" that's different then that of XP. Longhorn is going to "break" more drivers and programs then XP did, tho legacy compatebility (sp?) should improve.

Besides, XP standard theme is eyecandy only. With longhorn it's more user friendly. Even for an Alpha, I liked it, while I really dislike the 2000/XP interface.

[seer]

Yeah, very restrictive DRM (digital right management)

FUD I would say.

http://www.pro-networks.org/forum/about56096.html

If any part of your computer gets broken (hd, motherboard, or anything else) you won't be able to use that stuff any more, you will need to buy it again!

Source ? That's the same as with XP activation, put in another HD and you are forced to reactivate.. Well, never happened to me.. And I have added / changed my HD's, burner and even my mobo (same make / model..)

[seer]

Could this be a big problem with backwards compatability?

Depends, xml wil mostly be used by the new API calls and longhorn features, so any old Win32 program shouldn't need to worry about that.

Longhorn is, according to MS the biggest change since Win 3.1 -> 95 or 95 -> NT.

[seer]

From what I can tell, the Longhorn kernel isn't substantially different from any other version of Windows NT. Improvements here and there. . . . Changes to the driver model. . . . Some new native API calls. . . . And the Win32 API is still the same API we all know and love.

True, the kernel is based on Windows 2003. The Win32 is there for compatiblety. Longhorn programs are supposed to use the new Api, some of wich are going to be backported to XP. The GFX engine isn't going to be, so no "fancy" longhorn effects on XP.

Current alpha isn't even that compatible with XP at the moment..

/edit
win32 -> winfx
Avalon

longhorn apis

[seer]

I suppose I could install Longhorn and take a look.

If you have VMWare or MS VirtualPC be sure you install it on a formatted virtual disc.

If you have a build with begins with 4, it probably based on XP. If it's a 5 it's should be based on 2003. Note it's an alpha, the current release is more aimed at driver development (or so they say) then anything else. It might be nothing more then Win2003 with Avalon/Indigo out in and some other tweaks (have "fun" with the security center in the latest build..) I hope I can get the beta from my friend as well as it comes out ..

Oh, and the latest 5 has a new boot manager. Nothing fancy, just prettier. (Ehm.. fancier I suppose ;-))