Ballmer Looks to the Cloud and Says, 'Windows'
|
News Commentary. Gasp. Steve Ballmer said Microsoft will launch its cloud operating system at PDC. He said it today. OMG, get a life people. He told everybody last week. |
Bob Muglia, Microsoft's Server and Tools senior vice president, as much as said so on Sept. 8, as I blogged then and on Monday about Steve's preannouncement.
"We'll announce a new operating system, one that runs in the cloud and has a wide variety of capabilities," Steve told venture capitalists on Thursday. "That is part of what we'll talk about at our Professional Developers Conference."
But this shocking news is only making the blogs today thanks to statements The Register reported Microsoft's CEO making in London. "We need a new operating system designed for the cloud, and we will introduce one in about four weeks. We'll even have a name to give you by then," The Register quoted Steve Ballmer as saying.
Steve is a hoot. He called the cloud operating system "Windows Cloud." That's funny and not what the final name will look like. Years ago, a Microsoft product manager told me that one runner-up name for Windows XP was Windows Oxygen, as in Windows O2. Now that would be a great name for a Microsoft cloud operating system. Because what's most important up there in the cloud? Oxygen, whether free in the air or component of water vapor.
I don't even have to say, but will, that some readers of this blog might assign other monikers to the cloud operating system, like Windows CO2 or Windows Green House.
What should Microsoft call its bad-ass cloud computing operating system? Windows Thunderhead? Windows Storm Warning? Windows Rainmaker? Windows Lightning? Windows SkyLive? Windows Live Business Intelligence Unified Communications Cloud Services? I'm being ridiculous, of course. But, seriously, what would be a good name?
Please make your suggestions by e-mail or in the comments.
[Please send your tips or rumors to watchtips at live.com.]
Comments (26)
Windows Ozone...
Posted by Douglas S. Taylor | October 1, 2008 6:51 PM
Windows Smog
Posted by Goblin[RFD] | October 1, 2008 7:42 PM
Windows Buzzword Edition
Posted by billybob | October 1, 2008 8:15 PM
Close the windows, step outside and open the source.
Posted by Ralph | October 1, 2008 8:39 PM
Whatever they call it, even one of the names you suggested, it can't possibly be worse than the "Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2)". Ugh!
Posted by Tom | October 1, 2008 8:44 PM
1. Blue Sky of Death
I wish I'd thought of it first, but alas I did not:
digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20081001/not-the-dreaded-blue-sky-of-death-again/?reflink=ATD_myyahoo
2. Windows Skylight
(Not insulting, but sounds like something they'd say.)
*sigh* I've looked at Clouds from both sides now...
Posted by Philosopher | October 1, 2008 10:20 PM
"Every Windows cloud has a Silverlight lining"
Posted by Peter Schmidt | October 2, 2008 12:57 AM
Windows WOT (Waste of Time).
Expect Ballmer to mess this one up. Micro$oft is marketing company, not a technology company.
Posted by maddog | October 2, 2008 1:14 AM
Time to get rid of the "Windows" name. It was obviously something originally pulled out of a hat to name Microsoft's answer to Apple's GUI-based OS. It's now been in use for getting close to a quarter of a century.
Posted by Lawrence D'Oliveiro | October 2, 2008 3:32 AM
"Pie In The Sky".
Posted by Scott | October 2, 2008 8:37 AM
How about Windows Fog?
You can't see through the fog. It slows everything down.
Posted by DB Guy | October 2, 2008 8:55 AM
I think the naming will be logical, I am gonna guess and say:
Windows Live Server?
Posted by Andre Da Costa | October 2, 2008 9:16 AM
How about "Windows - Hog in the Fog"?
Posted by VistaVictim | October 2, 2008 10:48 AM
Windows Curtains.
As the name implies, may be attractive but limited functionality.
Posted by JacobWiser | October 2, 2008 12:22 PM
Windows WAW (What A Waste !)
Windows Waste-a
Windows Clog
Posted by srinivas | October 2, 2008 3:10 PM
few more:
Windows Bloat
Windows Locked (via UAC)
Windows Rusted
Windows Broken
Windows Tainted
Windows Infected (virus)
Windows BackDoor (for trojans)
Windows DryCloud
(Clouds that look promising, but go away without raining !)
Posted by srinivas | October 2, 2008 3:36 PM
Joe - It already has a name. It's called MOE - Mesh Operating Environment. And for everyone that thinks its vaporware, it's already working as part of the Live Mesh initiative. www.mesh.com.
Posted by Mark | October 2, 2008 3:38 PM
Is it MOE, as in:
1. MOE memory. MOE license fees. MOE crashes. MOE lock-in.
Or is it MOE, as in:
2. MOE is the environment. It supports the .net framework called CURLY, which in turn interconnects using the cloud communications layer called LARRY. Which gives the user the THREE STOOGES experience.
;-)
Posted by Philosopher | October 2, 2008 10:51 PM
@Philosopher
It may be MOE as in:
MOE Money MOE Money MOE Money... :p
Posted by Mark | October 2, 2008 11:41 PM
Windows HotAir
Posted by Filip | October 3, 2008 5:57 AM
Windows CO2 :)
Posted by cabhsihek | October 3, 2008 2:58 PM
The cloud version of windows should be called "Open". Windows Open will run arbitrary applications... now that Steve Ballmer has been taught the definition of "arbitrary".
Posted by portuno | October 3, 2008 7:46 PM
"All your data are belong to us"
Posted by mgo | October 4, 2008 10:12 PM
my goal is to see windows in the cloud and on every computer possible. i want to make love to windows in the cloud. it really brings me out! Go MS, and keep up the good work!
Posted by Philosopher | October 5, 2008 12:20 AM
They should call it, "Microsoft Cumulus."
MS will keep adding more and more to it until it turns into a full-blown super cell, spawning "F5" destructive tornadic activity. Especially for those who use this new technology without fully understanding it!
If they don't have a "Popfly" server component or something similar, I will be very surprised.
Posted by NPearce | October 5, 2008 4:04 PM
I for one hopoe they do something...different. If they pick a 'cloud' name it would be so lame. That would be like naming something Windows Web 2.0. Dated before it is launched. Something like Silverlight would be cool.
Posted by Joe Sixpack | October 7, 2008 7:52 PM