Windows

As managing vice president, Rob Helm covers Microsoft collaboration and content management. His 25-plus years of experience analyzing Microsoft’s technology... more

Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2, the current Windows client and server OSs, share a common set of key files, were developed simultaneously, and share the same general availability date: Oct. 22, 2009. Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 are the result of evolutionary rather than revolutionary changes to the OS: no major architectural changes were made to the underlying components of either product; rather, changes concentrated on areas likely to induce large organizations and consumers to upgrade. Work is now under way on the next releases of Windows, referred to here as Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012.

Windows Client OS

The most recent Windows client version, Windows 7, was released to manufacturing in July 2009. Volume customers were able to begin deployments in Aug. 2009 and general availability was Oct. 22, 2009. (See the illustration “Windows Client Overview“.) A joint first service pack for both the Windows 7 client and Windows Server 2008 R2 server is currently in release candidate stage, with general availability expected in early 2011. Windows Vista remains in Mainstream support. (See the chart “Past Windows Client Versions“.)

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