Windows Longhorn

Windows Longhorn is the code name of the next release of the Windows client and server operating systems. Key expected highlights of the Longhorn release of the operating system include the following:

• A drastically new task-based User Interface/Presentation Services framework, which will be known as Avalon

• Using managed APIs to interact with the operating system

• SQL Server “based Windows File System

Both client (a successor to Windows XP Professional) and server (a successor to Windows 2003 Server) releases of Longhorn operating system are expected. The Longhorn release is expected to be a major release that impacts almost every aspect of the Microsoft platform, including the desktop and server operating systems, Microsoft Office Suite, Visual Studio .NET tools, and the server system.