Microsoft has further watered down the Next Generation Secure Computing Base (NGSCB) technology that will ship with its forthcoming Longhorn operating system. VNU Net has a report detailing the cuts, which it seems, leaves Longhorn with only "Secure Startup" instead of the fullblown "Palladium" NGSCB.

"Rather than deliver nothing, Microsoft is saying: 'Let's do what we can deliver.' [Microsoft] had to cut functionality to meet a launch date," said Novoa. He expects the technology to be ready by 2007 or 2008.