GOOD NEWS: Longhorn Server to have one version for many roles

Microsoft will let customers configure the next major release of Windows Server for specific server tasks, rather than selling a host of different Windows Server Longhorn editions tailored to those tasks, a company executive said Friday.

The release, code-named Windows Server Longhorn and set to ship in 2007, will support much more granular role-based installation than does the current Windows Server 2003. This will include the option to install only the software code needed to support a certain role, such as terminal server or file server.

"We see this more as an option that customers will choose, not that we will package," said Bob Muglia, senior vice president in charge of Microsoft's Windows Server Division, in an interview on Friday. "Customers are going to want to buy standard Windows Server and then configure it the way they want."

Full story: Info World

Sort of like the RedHat Linux I used a while back, you could customized it depending on the purpose of the machine. Good I think.

Nice idea for sure.

Will it affect the pricing though? Modular licensing maybe?

emr