14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has officially christened Windows Server code-name Longhorn as Windows Server 2008, thus confirming one of the two possible choices. The Redmond Company has oscillated between Windows Server 2007 and Windows Server 2008, but Longhorn, following the availability of the first public milestone in the product's development, Beta 3, was finally stripped of its code-name.
The 2007 edition of Microsoft's Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC 2007) in Los Angeles was the stage where Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates revealed that the company will go with Windows Server 2008, as the final name for Windows Server code-name Longhorn.
"The name for this product, we've been working hard thinking about it. Microsoft has a lot of different names for things. We played around with a couple different ideas, but what we're going to go with is pretty straightforward, I think you'd say. This will simply be called Windows Server 2008. I know it's a surprise for us to pick something so straightforward, but we thought that would be the best choice," Gates revealed, and the subtle touch of humor generated applause and laughs across the audience.
Concomitantly with the announcement, Microsoft has also introduced the Windows Server 2008 official website, which delivers the Beta 3 download. "Microsoft Windows Server 2008 helps you to increase the flexibility of your server infrastructure while saving time and reducing costs. Powerful new management tools and security enhancements allow you to have more control over your servers while providing advanced protection so you can spend less time on everyday tasks and more time bringing greater value to your organization," reads an announcement posted on the site.
The confusion surrounding the final name for Longhorn, was generated not by Microsoft's option - as it was pretty clear that the company would follow in the previous steps of its server line - but by the fact that Longhorn, being scheduled for market availability by the end of this year, was eligible for both the "2007" and "2008" references in the name. Bill Gates confirmed yet again that Windows Server 2008 is scheduled for RTM in the latter half of this year.
"This yearly confab brings together the industry's key PC hardware eco-system players to help define and drive what the future of Windows computing will look like. Just about a year ago, Bill Gates used his WinHEC keynote address (May 2006 in Seattle) to highlight a major company milestone -- the first time all three major Microsoft product lines (Windows, Windows Server, and Office) reached beta 2 at the same time. This morning, Bill unveiled another milestone -- the official name for Windows Server "Longhorn". Drum roll please... Introducing Windows Server 2008! As Bill joked, I'm sure this isn't a big surprise," explained Ian Hameroff, Senior Product Manager Windows Server 2008.