Paul Thurrott: The next major version of Windows Server has been on a slow burn for years. The story of this product, which, like Windows Vista, is codenamed Longhorn, does indeed have its origins alongside Microsoft's recently released client operating system (see my Windows Vista review). But though Windows Server "Longhorn," or Longhorn Server as I call it, has suffered through the same delays as did Vista, there have been few complaints.

Part of that can be attributed to the nature of the server market: Microsoft's corporate customers simply aren't clamoring for new Windows versions at the same pace as does the company's enthusiast and consumer users. But that's not the entire reason. Unlike the Windows client team, the Windows Server team has been open about its release delivery schedule and has largely delivered on that schedule over the past several years. At this moment, then, Longhorn Server is pretty much on schedule, though the final release could ship several months later than originally expected. No need to queue the alarmist headlines, folks. No one cares.