Longhorn Server Comes When?

Yesterday, Microsoft slapped 2008 onto the names of the next versions of SQL Server and Visual Studio, both of which are scheduled for release next year.

Microsoft had said that Windows Server 2008 would release—as in release to manufacturing—this year. But there are increasing signs Microsoft won't make its date.

Windows Vista is a good example of how the process works. Microsoft makes subtle announcements that point to eventual delay.Then the bomb drops. In November 2005, Microsoft canceled its scheduled Vista CTP (Community Technology Preview) and stopped talking about Beta 2 as, well, Beta 2. Microsoft's excuse: The Vista development team had received so much feedback, Microsoft had to throttle back test builds. Huh? Four months later, Microsoft said that Vista would miss holiday 2006.

These are the signs that Windows Server 2008, better known by the code name "Longhorn," will release later rather than sooner:

• The track record isn't so good. Microsoft delayed three times Windows Server 2003's release date before shipping the software.
• Two weeks ago, Microsoft canceled—the PR folks say "postponed"—its 2007 developer conference. These conferences usually, but not always, align with major operating system releases.
• Microsoft used 2008 rather than 2007 in the Windows Server name. The company actually has some rules about nomenclature. The 2008 choice suggests, at best, late-year release to manufacturing.
• SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008, two products closely aligned with Windows Server 2008, are scheduled to ship next year.
• Microsoft delayed Viridian virtualization technology until after Windows Server 2008's release.
• Beta 3, the first public release of Windows Server 2008, has been available for nearly six weeks. Time between Beta 2 and Beta 3 was about 11 months.
• Microsoft is no longer talking about Windows Vista Service Pack 1's release, when in November the company told eWEEK that the update would ship with Windows Server 2008.

Until Microsoft commits to a firm ship date, as in available to customers, enterprises may want to re-evaluate how they coordinate deployments of other recent Microsoft software, such as Office 2007, SharePoint Server 2007 or Windows Vista.

Related Posts:

• PDC R.I.P. Means 'What?', Microsoft Watch, May 25, 2007
• Longhorn Named Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Watch, May 15, 2007
• 'Katmai' to Anchor Microsoft BI Strategy, Microsoft Watch, May 9, 2007
• What's Inside Windows Server Longhorn, Microsoft Watch, April 30, 2007
• Microsoft's 'Big Bang' Is When?, Microsoft Watch, April 26, 2007
• Viridian Delay Foreshadows What About Windows Longhorn Server?, Microsoft Watch, April 12, 2007
• Vista Virtualization Goes Back to the Future, Microsoft Watch, April 2, 2007
• Viridian Delay Foreshadows What About Windows Longhorn Server?, Microsoft Watch, April 12, 2007
• Windows Server Takes the Lead, Microsoft Watch, Nov. 16, 2006