With the typical storage capacity on most new PCs sold today approaching 200GB, and with the choice of large media files (digital images, audio or video videos) streamed via the Internet increasing daily, Microsoft could not continue with Windows XP's file storage structure in its successor operating system. Indeed, Windows Vista is more of a hard drive file browser than an operating system, even going so far as to adopt within its Windows Explorer the look and feel of Internet Explorer. But falling well short of Microsoft's more ambitious plans for a whole new file system (the new WinFS file system is expected to be a feature of the Longhorn server release, which is due by early 2008), Windows Vista performs best as a transitional operating system, weaning its users away from file hierarchies and towards metatag-driven search. Even so, Windows Vista will still require a large paradigm shift on the part of users.
With Windows Vista, large volumes of documents, images and media files become unmoored from the hierarchical file structures of earlier Windows versions by indexing filenames, metatags and even file content. When viewed this way, Windows Vista allows users to create virtual groups on the fly based on a variety of criteria without dragging and dropping the individual files into various folders. Indeed, like the Internet itself, physical location ceases to be an issue within Windows Vista. This sea change affects many aspects of the new operating system.
Gone from Windows Vista is the traditional file path of folders and files separated by slashes. And instead of remembering within which folder a particular document, image or media file was saved, something called Windows Vista Instant Search will point to the correct document or program. And, unlike many desktop search applets from Google and others, Windows Vista indexes your hard drive without much of a performance hit.
Talkback
If this system is anything like the one introduced in WMP11, I'm certainly looking forward to it. Should make dealing with a hard drive choc full of files much easier.
Is there a fixed Programs (or Programs Folder) created on install? I see there is Documents. Where do you install programs to? Windows usually throws files all over the place. (Unlike Borland Turbo Delphi)
Looks like the drummed in "Good Housekeeping" of the past is a thing of the past. Is everything just in one big blob on the hard disk?? And saved searches or virtual folders the main ref. I was just wondering if you can't remember the name; but knew you put it in such and such folder; will now be useless.
Doesn't APPLE operate this way? Never had Apple Mac or really seen it up close, but though they were always of the ilk that "we take care of the operating system", you don't need to know where stuff is.
Anyway, your article has been the clearest explanation I been able to get so far.