Longhorn, the new version of Microsoft Windows due late this year, is much more customizable for IT staffers than previous versions. For example, a new tool called Crimson classifies system health in three types (basically they are normal, becoming unhealthy, and flat-out crashed.) Crimson links with various systems management servers. Also, a cached client storage technique makes users always work on files in local states, constantly replicated to servers. A third Longhorn aspect is virtualization, which officials admit may take future upgrades to finish.

For more on Longhorn:
- see this eWeek article

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