Microsoft Readying 'Avalon' Framework for Longhorn
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0%2C3959%2C368868%2C00.asp

> While the old Display Properties dialog is temporarily still available,
> Microsoft provides a preview of the new Display Properties application,
> which was written with the new .NET-based Avalon APIs (Figure).
http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/longhorn_alpha.asp

> Avalon is the codename for the Longhorn API, it is built on top of the .NET framework,
http://www.google.co.jp/search?q=cache:K71pIerM62sC:ejk.myip.org:88/gallery/album05+avalon+longhorn+api+%22.net+framework%22&hl=ja&ie=UTF-8&inlang=ja

Avalonは薄皮かもしれないが、LonghornをLonghornたらしめるもので
それが.NETベースの開発者用フレームワークということで
そんなにしょぼいものじゃないような。