Back in 2001 Microsoft's early betas of Windows XP contained a user interface dubbed "Watercolor". But only months before the operating system shipped Microsoft completely replaced it with an entirely different look and feel called "Luna" which became known as "Windows XP Style".

That move has created speculation that current Windows Vista look and feel, called Aero glass, would be replaced by a different look and feel later in the beta process.

However, this week's PowerUser.TV podcast has an interview with Microsoft developers who have confirmed that there will be no major change to the look and feel of Windows Vista from what is being shown in build 5270. In other words, Aero-Glass is it.

PowerUser.TV has a new episode and it's a big one!

This week we travel to Las Vegas for the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show. We recorded at the Microsoft booth and got to interview Jenny Lam and Chuck Cummins about what’s new with the User Interface in Vista. If you are into customizing your computer, you can’t miss this!

Plus we talk with Marcel (Redmak) Klum and Steven (Neobond) Parker of Neowin.net and find out what they saw at the show and what’s new for Neowin this year.

Finally we talk with Jed Rose of Microsoft about the Windows communities and how Microsoft is trying to incorporate their feedback into their products. In all, a VERY interesting show.

Of course, recording on the floor of CES means a LOT of background noise. I asked all 180,000 people to please be quiet but I guess majority rules, eh?

View: PowerUser.TV

View: Yahoo page  (if you have a Yahoo.com account, please subscribe!)

Disruptors:

Rather than just copying and pasting news from Betanews.com over here (which I can assure you Nate always says to me "Brad, I really wish you'd just copy and paste our news and change Nate Mook to Brad Wardell) here's a direct link. 

Lots of good stuff there.  He got a good tour of the Samsung booth and has some good writeups on that there too. Check it out!

Yesterday we managed to do a PowerUser.TV recording (it'll be up next week).  It was a real challenge as we were using new equipment and our software program wasn't cooperating.  But we were able to talk at length to two people from the Microsoft Windows Experience team and there were a couple of pretty big news items in there (that you'll have to tune in to hear about <g>).

Microsoft was really pushing MCE (Media Center Edition).  I think they recognize that they have the right product at the right time.  That seems to be the consensus of many people I talked to.  As a Tivo guy myself who has also dabbled with BeyondTV, Microsoft really may be on to something with MCE.

When I get back from Las Vegas, I'm going to write up about some things I learned about Microsoft that I think people will find surprising.  It's really a new company and I say that as someone who has dealt with Microsoft for a decade.  Stay tuned on that.

I did get to wander the show floor so if anyone has any questions, comment here and I'll address them in the next article.

It's been quite a show. CES is a computer nerd's dream. Every kind of gadget and gizmo you could imagine is there.

Outside the show there was a Microsoft tent that looked pretty cool.  Windows Vista is EVERYWHERE and looking fine.

Another look from outside.

1080p TVs were everywhere.

Several members from the Windows community there.  Neowin.net, TweakXP.com, OSNN, Bink, Longhorn blogs, and more.

Chris Pirillo and Jen from Microsoft.  Sure, I stole Chris's chair but my feet were sore.

Las Vegas!

Pretty lights..