Apart from other fundamental changes that the newest offering in the Windows series 'Windows Vista™' has seen, significant change of approach has also taken place in the way Microsoft deals with localisation issues. While Windows XP was naturally English from

inside, it is not so with the new OS.

Windows Vista™ provides a Multilingual User Interface (MUI) which, unlike Windows XP, is not applied as an outer layer of an original English version. In the new OS, the binary code of the operating system is independent of any language related resources which actually come bundled in the shape of individual language packs. While the language-neutral binaries are responsible for all other aspects of running the computer minus the user interface, independently downloadable and installable language packs are meant to handle the user interface part.

According to Microsoft, when language packs were applied on an inherently English Windows XP, the results were mixed; some languages had more complete support than others. And in each case, the language packs had to be installed over an English version of the operating system. On the other hand Windows Vista™ is completely language neutral.

MUI in Windows Vista™ is implemented in two parts, with the first being the OS binaries and the second the language pack. Even after installation of the OS, both remain independently accessible. Thus, if any updation needs to be done in any of the two, it can be ensured without affecting the other. Also, all Windows Vista™ computers throughout the world can be updated by a single update program as the OS binaries are same and language independent.

This approach speeds up internationalisation of Windows Vista™ as after the development of OS binaries, Microsoft doesn't need to work on its localised versions for individual languages. It only needs to work on development of language packs which is a very small

task compared to localisation of a complete operating system. This saves time and effort and helps Microsoft provide MUIs in as many languages as possible.

Unlike in the case of Windows XP, Windows Vista™ doesn't need MUI to be installed as a separate package as it gets installed by default. To add a new language, the user needs to instal the LIP for the language concerned. Incidently, Hindi LIP for Windows Vista™ is out and can be downloaded from the here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0e21eb7b-e01a-4fcc-b7f1-30e419da7f5b&DisplayLang=hi