Windows Codename Natura

Windows Natura (NT version 5.8) was an unreleased beta Windows version intended to be the successor for Windows 2000 and ME before it had been cancelled and replaced by Windows XP.
This beta contains many features that can be found in Windows XP including but not limited to:
* NTFS 3.1
* Advanced theming
* Text antialiasing (ClearType)
* An early version of WDM
The internal beta testing period started from June 1998 until February 2001 until ultimately being scrapped. Natura's abandonment was caused by several factors in the OS and its development, notably, it was very unstable. Testers complained it was too slow and would often bluescreen when using the advanced theming engine, and also complained about it being unfinished and being unpolished, due to the time constraints that developers had to build this beta. Microsoft also decided to streamline its OS lineup, combining MS-DOS and NT operating systems, something that Windows XP would do upon its release, another reason why Natura was abandoned.
== Builds ==
==== Build 2403: ====
Built on July 1999.
Visually similar to Windows 2000, it added:
* Cursor shadows for supported graphics cards
* New Task Manager
* Minor changes to branding
This version, although nearly functionally similar to Windows 2000, had some major changes, such as the driver system, with the inclusion of WDM, many drivers were made incompatible and if drivers succeeded to install, were often very unstable and would often crash the system. it also added some system files related to the advanced theming feature but this build did not have it functioning yet.
==== Build 2410: ====
Major changes were made since the last build, it added advanced theming (though very unstable) and a new Start menu, featuring a column for recently opened files, shown in the following photo. This version also adds major changes to the branding and bugfixes to the WDM system. This version was built in October 1999.
This build adds the following:
* Windows Media Player
* (highly unstable) Advanced theming
* Compatibility Mode
==== Build 2423: ====
Includes a much more stable Advanced theming feature and features the "Verdant" theme style. Many bugfixes occurred on this version. No major changes occurred besides the new theme. Built on December 1999. Development stopped around the time after this was built.
Category:Fictional Windows versions