Windows Vista
Microsoft’s successor to its XP operating system is currently called Vista (initially it was known as Longhorn). Whilst it is not due to be released until late this year, a recent slip at Microsoft saw it disclose that when Vista is released there may be up to eight different editions. The time between releasing XP and Vista is five years, the longest gap ever between new Microsoft operating systems. Whenever it’s actually released, Vista is unlikely to have much impact on the UK education market until Microsoft sort out their educational licensing arrangements.
According to the leaked information, two versions of Vista are intended solely for the European market and would not include Windows Media Player, the software at the heart of Microsoft’s longstanding legal battle with EU regulators.