Microsoft Corp has released the second beta version of its latest consumer operating system, code-named Millennium, last week. The OS, supposedly the last version using the Windows 9x kernel, is due to be released sometime next year. Features include in-built support for home networking and improved digital media capabilities, according to Microsoft.
It is still not clear if Millennium will be the last OS to use the 9x kernel. Microsoft’s plan to develop a consumer version of NT has already been affected by the delays to Windows 2000. A Microsoft spokesperson would not be drawn on when the Consumer NT OS will arrive, saying, Our goal is still to have a future consumer OS based on the NT Kernel and we are working towards delivering that in a future version of Consumer Windows.
