Microsoft Developing 'Start Page' and 'Start Panel'

Microsoft has been working on 'Start Panel' and 'Start Page' ehancements for Windows Whistler, seemingly consiting of a new Start Menu and Active Desktop respectively. Showcasing Microsoft's move towards a Web-based desktop, the changes can be seen in the latest version of the upcoming operating system, sent to a select group of testers last week.

Discovered earlier today by Paul Thurrott, the new Start Panel offers simplified navigation to common tasks via a DHTML interface. Still buggy and thus hidden from normal use, it contains all standard Start Menu options in a two-pane view.

The Start Page Active Desktop gives the user easy access to recently used programs and documents, as well as the Internet, e-mail, and search functions. Still incomplete, the Start Page desktop will allow an OEM such as Dell to brand a computer and each user to have their own photo when logged on. The desktop acts as an expanded version of the new Start Panel and will be customized on a per-user basis.

Knowing Microsoft, the Start Page and Start Panel may be scrapped before final release, but they demonstrate the company's shift towards a fully Web-ified operating system.

Whistler is the codename for Microsoft's upcoming operating system, currently dubbed Windows .NET, and is slated for release Q3 2001.

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