Windows Vista: The New Sound of Microsoft Windows

It took Microsoft 18 months to come up with the four second sound users will hear when they log on to the new Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. Software maker Steve Ball recruited 70s rock music artist Robert Fripp to come up with the sounds. Fripps's partner, Brian Eno, recorded some sounds for Microsoft Windows 95, so it is of no surprise that Fripp help with the sounds for Microsoft Windows Vista.

Microsoft debated for a long time before finally settling on the startup sound four weeks ago. This sound is meant to induce the rhythm to the words "Win-dows Vis-ta!" and Steve Ball hopes this will provide as a calling card for the Windows Vista operating system. This new sound will consist of one chord for every color that is in the Windows Vista graphic as it appears on the screen.

In the Microsoft Vista operating system there will be a total of 45 sounds that has also been determined over the past year and a half. It does seem like a long time to spend on just a few sounds of sound, however Microsoft is expecting that these sounds will be heard probably a trillion times in the years to come. So you definitely want a sound that will not grow annoying over time.

Steve Ball has also said "We want you to know they're there, and you would miss them if they were gone, but we would like them to be just barely noticeable, almost like they are part of the environment or part of your wallpaper." In my opinion this is good news because most of the sounds in Microsoft Windows XP got annoying real quick, and Ball even admits that in the past Windows' sounds could be jarring and bothersome.

Microsoft Windows Vista will be available for pre-installed computers or as a stand alone product in January 2007. This operating system will come in four editions: Basic, Premium, Business and Ultimate. There will be tons of added features on the new operating system including increased security, ease of use, sidebar & gadgets, etc. But the most exciting thing will have to be this new and improved four second clip that all users will hear when they log on to Windows Vista.

I guess we will just have to wait and see for sure, because it is hard for me not to be skeptical since I have never heard a sound that did not get annoying after listening to it a few times!