Media Alert: Microsoft Unveils Official Name for “Longhorn” and Sets Date for First Beta Targeted at Developers and IT Professionals

Media Alert: Microsoft Unveils Official Name for “Longhorn” and Sets Date for First Beta Targeted at Developers and IT Professionals: "Today Microsoft Corp. announced the official name of its next-generation Windows® client operating system, formerly code-named “Longhorn.” Video of the name announcement can be seen via the link below."

Sign of the times -- Microsoft probably spent more on the Windows Longhorn naming process and intro video than all other OS vendors are (together) spending on annual marketing/advertising.

"Vista" -- the always-handy answers.com (click the link to see a page that doesn't have format-munging...) says:

"vis·ta (v?s't?)
n.

A distant view or prospect, especially one seen through an opening, as between rows of buildings or trees.
An avenue or other passage affording such a view.
An awareness of a range of time, events, or subjects; a broad mental view: “the deep and sweeping vistas these pioneering critics opened up” (Arthur C. Danto).
[Italian, from feminine past participle of vedere, to see, from Latin vid?re.]
vis'taed (-t?d) adj."

Or maybe it has something to do with "hasta la vista"?...