Windows 2008 Workstation

... also known as Windows Server 2008. Will they ever release a desktop OS off this package?

I've installed the evaluation version on some empty boxes to play, and... WOW. It's fast. Stable. Elegant. It's exactly what I would expect in a 2008 desktop operating system. I can even turn on all the Vista Aero effects and all--even use any existing Vista drivers. But unlike Vista, it's actually fast--fast to boot, fast to work with, it even copies files properly without needing a service pack.

The license cost makes it far too expensive to actually buy and use on a desktop or laptop. But if they could strip out the server components and put it on sale for Vista prices, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I don't know what magic they did with this product, but it does -everything- I am used to doing with Vista and still feels quicker/faster in virtually every operation. What's going on here??

 

you get what you pay for i guess. but i'm sure linux users might disagree.

 

Possibily, if they did it would be Win7. Windows 2003 Server and XP followed the same tree and then branched off. Then Vista came from the Windows 2003 Server tree and from there you get the branched of Vista and 2008. This is why XP and 2003 are similar and Vista and 2008 are similar. Most likely what you will see if Win7 come off of the 2008 Server branch and form Win 7 and Server 7.

I would also love to try 2008. I should have gone to the trade show when they were giving it away.

 

You can download it from MS site....

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/trial-software.aspx

*I guess this works... I've not actually attempted to use it... after reading this post I might try it tonight....

 

I'll have to give that trial a run then. While it's not as good as a free copy, at least I'll be able to see how it runs.

 

You can use it for 240 days (8 months!).... MS provides the instructions on their site. 240 days is a LONG time... lol... I'm downloading mine now.

I've heard a couple of people talk about this... and I found this download the other night.... guess I might has well download it and see what all the commotion is about. I'm nosy like that.

 

A lot of what makes server 2008 great will be in Windows 7. So you can say windows 7 will be an offspring of server 2008.

 

That's what I don't understand. Server 2008 is supposed to share Vista's code base for the most part. And yet, the end result is the lithe, responsive, powerful, elegant OS that I was expecting Vista to be.

I've been running it for a little while on a laptop and a desktop, and it's superb on both. It's the best laptop OS I've ever used. All it needs is some packaging for desktop use (a number of desktop features are turned off out of the box and have to be ticked on, such as wifi support) but once you do the 5 minutes of config, it's all the power of Vista with none of the bloat.

 

Here's a guide on Aero Enabling Windows Server 2008.

Windows Server 2008 "Aero Enabled" Workstation Edition

 

I think they took Vista codes and seriously trimmed it down.

 

Tried it on my core duo / 2gb RAM. I installed vista previously and that after wards installed server 2008 and tweaked it to act like a desktop; with aero and all.

comments:
- definitely faster than vista but slower than a tweaked windows xp
- windows xp loads in less than 80 seconds whilst win2008 tweaked took 180 just to get to the log-on screen.
- aero is great but has a drastic toll on resources; classic theme looks and feels like the 1990s (yuck!) and my uxthemed win xp uses less memory and has more beautiful themes.

 

What is your graphics card?

 

I don't want the useless features of server 2008 for my use.

 

It takes longer to get to the login screen because Superfetch is building a cache in your RAM so your system runs quickly once it is launched. I never turn off my computer and reboot only for updates so I really don't notice a longer boot time.

 

On the contrary, they took Vista's kernel and built ON it. Technically, they took Vista SP1's kernel. Vista just get a bad rap even though Vista and Server 2008 share a LOT of the same code.

 

Exactly, this is what I love about it. Server 2008 lets me add on the features I want, whereas Vista pretty much installs with everything running whether I want its media streaming processes or remote access processes or whatever running (or not). I think the result is Server 08 feeling a lot more lean.

 

Server 2003 was similiar. Honestly, users are better off installing everything IMHO. That way you aren't on the road and then all the sudden, "Dang, I wished I installed DUN so I can use the hotel's internet connection."