What chances does Windows Vista have of becoming Microsoft's first online hosted operating system? A Cloud OS Windows Vista would imply that users will no longer need to run the operating system on their machines, but instead access it online. Microsoft has failed to confirm any possibility that Vista will be transitioned to the Internet and offered as a hosted service instead of a client operating system. Still, this possibility - however remote - exists, and Microsoft is in fact working on a Cloud OS. Does Windows Live ring any bells?

Microsoft has a different perspective over a potential bundle between Windows and Windows Live. Instead of delivering a basic Windows architecture and then making all additional components of the operating system available online, the Redmond company is targeting a software plus services approach. Ray Ozzie, Microsoft's Chief Software Architect has admitted that the company is indeed working on the development of the Could OS, as an interpretation of the services and suites of products united under the Windows Live brand but did not offer any clues as to when or even if the vision of an online Windows operating system would materialize.

When it comes down to software plus services, its means that the online offerings of Windows Live will only come to build on top of a traditional Windows platform. Microsoft Chief Executive officer Steve Ballmer stated firmly in the past that Vista won't be the company's last big operating system and that similar versions of the Windows platform are planned in the years ahead. In such a context, and taking into consideration the slow evolution of Windows Live, Vista and even its successor Windows Seven have little - if no chance at all - to be transitioned online. The main impediment, along with a different business strategy from Microsoft is of course the networking infrastructure and Internet connections that have the potential of limiting the users' experience.
However, Windows Vista and Windows XP hosted and available online are becoming a reality, as part of a subscription based service for just $12.99 per month, courtesy of Nivio. Users are able to sign into online accounts and access their personal Windows desktop on any machine worldwide.