Gates evangelises next-generation Windows

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has been spilling the beans about Windows XP's successor Longhorn.

Speaking to the US Fortune magazine the Microsoft boss revealed his plans for the overhaul of the operating system.

Gates and his team are busy drawing up plans for what they perceive to be a completely new operating system rather than an upgrade of the existing Windows XP.

Work has already begun on redesigns for the company's other software products and services such as Microsoft Office and MSN online service to enable complete compatibility with Longhorn. However, the move will make many of the current Windows products obsolete.

Gates admitted it was a dramatic move but claimed it was the right move to make for the sake of innovation.

He said Longhorn would be the ultimate answer to many people's computing problems. All of these questions, he told Fortune, have been distilled down into 10 key issues - or "scenarios" in Microsoft speak - that need to be solved.

For example, Longhorn would file all documents and contacts so as to be reached en masse from any other application, it could screen incoming calls or it could automatically arrange meetings and online conferences.

Gates is working closely with his technical assistant Anoop Gupta to bash out the details.

"The one question we are ultimately trying to answer with Longhorn," said Gates, "is where is my stuff."

"If we can get this nailed so that I can find my stuff no matter what device I'm using, I think Longhorn will become a real breakthrough," he added.

Longhorn is scheduled for release during 2005.