Microsoft's show-and-tell at WinHEC

roundup The upcoming version of Windows, Longhorn, will feature three different levels of interface flashiness, depending on a user's hardware. Also: The company tells developers that a planned security architecture for Longhorn hasn't fallen into place but elements will make their way into the new OS.

Longhorn to feature flashy interface

The next version of Windows will sport some fancy, three-dimensional graphics, but for those with an older video card, Longhorn will look a lot like Windows 2000.
May 6, 2004

Laptop tune-up set for Longhorn

With the next version of Windows, Microsoft is looking to add a number of laptop-specific features designed to make portable machines more powerful.
May 5, 2004

Still tinkering with secure-computing design

The software giant warns developers that changes continue to be made in the security technology it plans to make a basic component of next-generation PCs.
May 5, 2004

Microsoft speaks no evil

reporter's notebook At WinHEC, plenty of buzzwords come up over and over again, but there's one word nary a Microsoft executive is uttering: Sasser, as in the recent worm.
May 5, 2004

Gates calls for 64-bit software support

The chairman sees widespread use of powerful 64-bit chips in the near future--but not if hardware makers don't get to work on the drivers that will bring that power to the desktop.
May 4, 2004

XP slated for marketing burst

Microsoft won't have a new operating system out before 2006, but with half of today's PCs running earlier versions of Windows, a fall marketing blitz will try to boost sales of the current Windows XP.
May 4, 2004

Server preview is short on detail

Microsoft updates its server software road map but offers hardware makers few specifics about many of the products on the horizon.
May 4, 2004

Microsoft bringing Web services home

The software maker, along with Hewlett-Packard and other companies, announces a new specification for linking consumer electronics devices to Windows.
May 4, 2004

Redmond to demonstrate home PC of tomorrow

Microsoft plans to show off the Windows Home Concept--a device and a vision that builds on its current Media Center technology.
May 3, 2004