Longhorn WinFS Fumbles

Somewhere on this site, I know I've talked about Longhorn and WinFS delays. But I can't find it... anyone got the link?

Anyway, there's an update. Some open source nut, Dr. Frederick Berenstein, chairman and CTO of Xandros Inc., to be exact -- thinks that Apple and the open source guys might beat MS to the punch with local search. On eWeek this fall, Berenstein was quoted as saying that "It is understandable, given the complexity of Microsoft's vision of the new [WinFS] system that they chose to remove it from Longhorn until it is fully functional. The Linux community is aware of the direction Microsoft is taking and is planning to bring comparable pervasive search capabilities to the Linux desktop."

So, if local search (that is, real rocking local search) hits before MS Windows update does, what does this do to Windows advantage in the market? Some would say not much. Others forecast the death of Bill G.. I don't know what I think yet.