As we recently reported, Microsoft has altered its Longhorn plans to make a 2006 release possible. However, to do this many technologies intended to be a part of the OS may not be available on release - instead, they could be added in future service packs or they even might be held back until future version of Windows, such as Blackcomb.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has been interviewed by Cnet New.com about how Microsoft handles such deadlines. A delay to Longhorn could hamper PC sales, or cause other problematic issues. Bill Gates talks in the interview about what changes will be happening in Longhorn to try to accomodate the 2006 release target as closely as possible.

I'll wait til version 'hammernuts'... seriously, who comes up with these stupid names?

Longhorn
Blackcomb

Whistler was Windows XP, its a mountain outside Seattle where the development team went skiing/snowboarding/whatever

Blackcomb is the next mountain across from it.

And Longhorn was the bar inbetween them.

Relative simple, makes more sense than the RedHat codenames (Shrike? Psyche?? Colgate???)