Microsoft recasts Windows release

REDMOND, WASH. - Microsoft has confirmed a change of plans for its forthcoming Longhorn release of Windows: The software will run on desktops but will not include a corresponding server version as previously planned.

By contrast, the follow-on to Longhorn, code-named Blackcomb, will run only on servers. Microsoft had said the Blackcomb release would be the full .Net version of its operating system.

When Microsoft shipped Windows 2000 it noted that the desktop and server operating systems were now on the same release cycle in an effort to give companies a cleaner upgrade option. That plan, however, disintegrated with the follow-on operating system release code-named Whistler, which was divided into last year's release of Windows XP desktop and the forthcoming Windows .Net Server 2003.

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REDMOND, WASH. - Microsoft has confirmed a change of plans for its forthcoming Longhorn release of Windows: The software will run on desktops but will not include a corresponding server version as previously planned.

By contrast, the follow-on to Longhorn, code-named Blackcomb, will run only on servers. Microsoft had said the Blackcomb release would be the full .Net version of its operating system.

When Microsoft shipped Windows 2000 it noted that the desktop and server operating systems were now on the same release cycle in an effort to give companies a cleaner upgrade option. That plan, however, disintegrated with the follow-on operating system release code-named Whistler, which was divided into last year's release of Windows XP desktop and the forthcoming Windows .Net Server 2003.

As recently as September, however, Microsoft was still talking about Longhorn bringing the synchronization of server and desktop back online. Microsoft has worked on builds of Longhorn server internally for some time, but ship dates have slipped. Plus, given the economy, customers were telling Microsoft they weren't necessarily ready for a server upgrade.

Longhorn was originally planned for a 2003 release, but delivery of Windows .Net Server 2003, due more than a year ago, has now slipped into that time slot.

Jim Allchin, group vice president for platforms, said earlier this year that Longhorn was now planned for 2005, but a Microsoft spokeswoman would not say if that date was for the desktop, the now-derailed server or both.

It could be that the Longhorn desktop will be coming sooner, given Microsoft's recently introduced Licensing 6.0 program and Software Assurance upgrade program that puts users on two- or three-year contracts that provide upgrade rights. Windows XP users likely will want to see something for their money if they have bought into Licensing 6.0.

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