Microsoft made available the latest iteration of Windows Embedded at the end of 2008. Just ahead of the delivery of Windows XP Embedded SP3, the Redmond company also introduced Windows Embedded Standard 2009, also based on the XP codebase. In this regard, users will be able to get a hands-on experience with the new operating system in various ways, from downloading the trial version to accessing the academic edition and the Virtual Lab that went live at the end of the past month. Via the Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Virtual Lab, Microsoft allows testers to play with the operating system via the Internet and familiarize themselves with the product.

“Check out the new virtual lab that has gone live on the MSDN Virtual Lab site. This provides a way for you to play with the Windows Embedded Standard 2009 tools to build your own run-time image with some of the latest features, using the step-by-step guide. The lab takes 90 minutes to run through, but you can pause and re-start it as much as [you] like. Much better to have a hands-on experience rather than just reading some docs,” said Lynda Allen, Microsoft Embedded program manager.

The Virtual Lab, in concordance with the resources made available by the software giant, from documentation to exercises, is capable of delivering a taste of Windows Embedded Standard 2009, which does not require the users to download and deploy the operating system. Microsoft promises that “after completing this lab you'll be better able to use Windows Embedded Standard 2009 tools to create, build and deploy a Windows Embedded Standard 2009 operating system image that includes Internet Explorer and Silverlight.”

And just in case the Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Virtual Lab has convinced you to try the real thing, Microsoft is already offering a 120-day trial edition of the platform for download. In addition, the Redmond company is also allowing members of the MSDN Academic Alliance (MSDNAA) program to access Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Academic SKU which only expires after one year.

The 120-day Evaluation Edition of Windows Embedded Standard 2009 is available for download here.