This morning the monthly newsletter from the Technet team in the Netherlands was send out to thousands of Dutch IT Pros. Usually these have little news to me as it is mostly a summary of things going on and happening within Microsoft and new products released last few weeks. Every month Microsoft-vet Tony Krijnen writes this letter and sends it out.

However … this month I noticed something different and consulted co-writer Raymond Comvalius. What was written surprised us both. Tony wrote in his letter “Zo hebben Daniël en ik net een uitgebreide training achter de rug over de mogelijkheden van Windows 7 (Windows Server 2008 R2) en alles over het Software+Services concept”. (Translation: Daniël and I just completed an extended training on the features of Windows 7 (Windows Server 2008 R2) and on everything related to the Software+Services concept).

The most remarkable bit being of course the notation of Windows Server 2008 R2 right after Windows 7 thus meaning Windows Server 2008 R2 will be based on Windows 7? One can only speculate at this point as Microsoft won’t talk on Windows 7 openly just yet.

Little is known on Windows Server 2008 R2. In May 2008 first details started to show: Bink.nu: Windows Server 2008 R2 planned for 2009. A little fact that we do know is that Windows Server 2008 R2 will be x64-only as Windows Server 2008 is confirmed to be the last server edition of Windows to support x86.

Naming the new  version (of Windows Server) Windows Server 2008 R2 is a good move in my mind as  it won’t scare people away from Windows Server 2008, waiting for the new version (for instance Windows Server 2009). Making it sound like it’s not a huge upgrade, will make sure the adoption of Windows Server 2008 stays on track.