There are some beautiful and wonderful such multi-touch mixing boards available, but they cost about $4K today.

Good news on compatibility for software developers:

"We're very clear that drivers and software that work on Windows Vista [will work the same in] Windows 7," says Steven Sinofsky, head of Windows engineering.

From MS: Windows 7 to be an evolution, hold compatibility

The latter statement, about the release coming in January instead of December, is a sweet attempt to say that Vista wasn't a complete utter disaster parenthesis in the world of computers, but just a normal planned orderly release on a regular cycle.

Even the Wall Street Journal has been getting on Microsoft recently about how their financial analysts found that Vista was on only 40% of computers sold last year.

[I didn't see their original article, so I don't know if they contrasted that with OS X being on 66% of $1,000 and over computers, which is truly remarkable from an industry analytical standpoint.]

i don't want a dock. I've used that. I hated it. Strangely, I like the 95 layout the best. Even over the *nix systems I've used.

But besides that, *nix UI all the way: multiple desktops easier layouts on monitors, etc. :D

Best news is that we only have to wait two years to avoid vista 100%. Win2k didn't have a direct replacement until Vista & neither did XP.

I used to hate docks too.

Then I found that they could be configured in different ways, and I found a way I really like.

And I assume the "multiple desktops for easier layouts on monitors, etc." would be equivalent to "Spaces" in Leopard?

I didn't understand what you meant by "Win2k didn't have a direct replacement until Vista & neither did XP"?

And I assume the "multiple desktops for easier layouts on monitors, etc." would be equivalent to "Spaces" in Leopard?

not sure, but in the Linux UI's & in Irix I could have multiple "desktops" on one desktop. There was a little 4 panel icon on the bottom of the screen. Each panel was a new desktop. So you could have apps laid out in one desktop, click another panel & have a blank screen. You could set them up how you wanted. Maybe it's called virtual desktops?

I didn't understand what you meant by "Win2k didn't have a direct replacement until Vista & neither did XP"?

XP wasn't a replacement for 2k initially, it was a replacement for 98SE. 2k replaced NT (it fit the release cycle too: release the home edition, then the "pro" edition. Win 3.0/NT3, 95/NT4, Me/2k.) After XP did so well years later ms was considered a replacement.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, CEO Steve Ballmer and Windows 7 Preview:

http://d6.allthingsd.com/20080527/gates_ballmer/

There is a video preview about half way down of the touch.

Similar to CNN's "magic screen" used in their election coverage, Also seen in CSI Miami and other CSI shows.

David
EventVideoTeam.com

XP wasn't a replacement for 2k initially, it was a replacement for 98SE

This is incorrect. The replacement for Windows 98 was Windows ME. Windows ME was built on the same code-base as Windows 98 and was the natural progression. Windows XP was built on the Windows NT/2000 code base and was the natural progression from Windows 2K on the client side. Microsoft chose to stay with the Windows 2000 name on the server side, but that is marketing.

Your "pro" edition list (Win 3.0/NT3, 95/NT4, Me/2k) is a little odd, not sure what you mean by it. There are two main (not counting the embedded version) lines of Windows operating systems. The "real-mode" versions and the "protected-mode" versions. The real-mode versions basically have DOS as it's underpinnings while the protected mode versions have no DOS in them whatsoever.

Real-mode windows: Windows 1/2/3 3.1, 3.11, 95, 98, ME
Protected mode windows: Windows NT 3.1, 3.51, 4.0, 2000, XP, Vista and 7 soon

The real-mode windows, the one essentially running on top of DOS, is now defunct and have not had any (code-wise) impact on Windows XP or Vista.

Been playing with a large touch screen product for the last few months, basically a large tablet-like computer. What impresses me most is that my arms get tired and the screen gets smudgy. Love that.

Gorilla Arm - it's been around as long as the days of the telephone switchboard. The irony is that when you put the screen in an ergonomic position for the hands/arms, you lose the ergonomics of the back/neck/head/eyes.

"Windows 7" is of course just a project name at this stage.

I heard rumors that the final release was going to be called "Open Windows" (based on a leaked draft specification :O), or "OW" for short.

This could fit the physical impact on the operator from using large touch screens.

Sort of like "Wii Fit" but "OW."

:O)

Advertising slogan "OW - A Call To Arms!"

DailyTech just announced that "Microsoft's top leaders, Chairman and founder Bill Gates and Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, have publicly committed to moving the release date up from 2010 to 2009."

Hopefully they're right, this could generate some enthusiasm for a change, after the Vista debacle.

"after the Vista debacle" What debacle? ;-) Vista is the code name for Windows 7 beta........... how did I find out? I was in The House of Apple, worshiping the new thin laptop in the line of purchasing, when a high Apple tech purist recognized me and rush over to assist the national debt transfer and spread the word from the mountain that they captured a cloned SB and scanned the few SB brain cells in existence and discovered these secrets------