The feature list for Microsft Windows Vista is getting increasingly interesting as time goes on. Firstly there’s the Microsoft Command Shell, a powerful and scriptable CLI environment – something UNIX has had since time began (1970). Admittadly they’ve dropped it from Vista for security reasons, but it’ll be there for download through Windows Update when Vista is released.
Then there’s desktop search capability – something Linux distributions have been shipping for about a year (although Linux can’t do virtual folders based on searches – that’s a MacOS X innovation). Next is DVD writing (XP can write CDs, but not DVDs) – something Linux graphical environments have been able to do for several years. Recently announced is that Vista will implement symbolic links – another UNIX innovation from about 30 years ago. There’s also a full IPv6 implementation, something UNIXes have had for ages (not that anybody actually wants to use it, of course).
Traditionally it was always Linux playing catch-up to Windows, but each time a new Windows is released there are fewer features which aren’t already present in Linux. There are of course some things in Vista – calendar for example is a neat idea – but this holds true for most of the major new features. While some people with too much time on their hands may speculate that this marks the beginning-of-the-end for Microsoft, I think that’s a little pointless (and premature). What this does show is that it’s Free and Open Source software which is beginning to lead the industry and that is where the innovation is happening. It’s great to be part of it.
