After many discussions about a rebirth or a rip-and-replace Windows kernel, signs appear to indicate that it won't happen (not any time soon anyway). Setting Novell speculations aside, it's worth noting that Microsoft tries to build its own 'Linux' rather than grab the existing kernel, apparently.

For those who have not read/heard, Microsoft demonstrates a reduced/optimised kernel that is lighter than the previous one and claims that it will make Windows 7 more competitive w.r.t. Linux. Among the responses from the press:

The question is: why is Microsoft bothering with all this? The company already has all these customers hooked onto its lines. Why not just give them a decent product next time by using a Unix (or Linux) derivative as the core? At least they'll know it works.

He calls it a "leaner, meaner and cleaner Winix", but he questions the practicability of this technical initiative.

How about this one?

And of course, there's Linux - which already runs on hand-held devices without much fuss. That'll be in a much stronger position if and when the x86 architecture becomes a potent part of portable life.

Either way, it is encouraging to discover that no strategy is taken here which involves grabbing the Linux kernel or using Novell to build software will embed in Windows.