Microsoft works on simplifying operating systems.

Microsoft_s plans for its next two consumer operating systems can be boiled down to a single word, the company says: simplicity. Microsoft has long been criticized for releasing software long on bloat and bugs, and short on simplicity. But the next two versions of the consumer platform, code-named Millenium and Neptune, will bring a more straightforward user interface while integrating support for new hardware and Internet features, a company spokesperson said. At the same time some may wonder if, while the company tries to simplify the OS, customers will be confused by a variety of codenames and recent upgrades to the system. That sort of uncertainty could be seen with the recent release of Windows 98 Second Edition. Microsoft last week delivered the initial plans for Millenium to PC makers for a "design review," a company spokesperson said.