Windows 7 May Have a Stripped Kernel
10.21.07 - 03:26pm
Looks like Microsoft may be taking some of the complaints with Vista to heart with it’s next-generation operating system, Windows 7. The kernel itself is one of the lowest levels of software within Windows and provides applications like Firefox and iTunes with physical resources while managing all the input/output requests to the hardware from the software. If I understand the New.come article on the “Mini-Me” Windows kernel, it’ll consume 25 megabytes of ram while providing basic I/O functions which could be perfect for high-performance single-function applications. What really comes to mind would be videogaming, imagine being able to shutdown all the garbage that runs in the background when gaming such as printer and peripheral drivers along with the dozens of other services that aren’t directly required for the primary process at the time. This would also be immensely useful with CPU benching as you’ll be able to devote nearly every clock cycle to your benchmark rather than maintaining the status of a dozen other applications. I’d really like to see Windows 7, or whatever Microsoft calls it, to incorporate a fully customizable installation where the user would have the option to install a bare minimum installation or a fullblown installation. If all else fails there will always be people willing to rip the kernel to shreds but it’d be nice to have the work done for us.
There may still be hope for Windows yet. I’ve always wondered what would happen if something like this came about. (Doesn’t the XBox run on a stripped Windows XP kernel?)
As I wrote the other, this “back to formula” approach they seem to be taking could be disastrous for drivers because it’s another serious structure change to the backend of Windows.
Just remember the various driver issues with Vista. It’s well over 18 months since hardware manufacturers got their mitts on Vista and I still have some devices that don’t have drivers!! I know that’s not MS’s fault (rather the lazy manufacturers’) but going through another overhaul is going to summon the 4 horsemen of the Drivageddon. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty… Unless MS pay vendors for their driver support.