I’d like to see the “standard” version containing pretty much what WHS does today, perhaps with the inclusion of Live Mesh, and a couple of more network orientated features. Some kind of enhanced Server-backup is also essential, the most secure would involve using a more capacious version of Live Mesh to provide continuous backup to the interweb. For Anti-Trust reasons, MS would probably have to partner with other companies to provide the storage for this. Of course were this to be implemented it makes the current Remote Access parts of the system more or less redundant, as one’s data is available via Mesh at all times….

The “Premium” version should obviously be a superset of the Standard, and will hopefully be designed to provide a “One box” Media Centre supporting multiple tuners etc, and enabled to stream this content to one’s devices around the home.

I don’t see this WHS in either guise as an HTPC or PC device, but as a true “back-end” server stashed somewhere well-ventilated, where there is ample space for a decent-sized box for cooling, expansion, upgrading etc. For the Premium version, this will move the whole Media Centre\WHS game onto a more “utility” oriented level, where it operates more like plumbing – as part of the infrastructure of the home, rather than as a specific “gadget” as at present.

I’m not 100% convinced that the “extender” is dead, though I was never convinced by the hugely expensive options that have been offered to date. I suppose though that as more and more devices gain Ethernet\wireless connectivity as standard, discrete extenders become redundant. I suppose that TV’s etc will all contain sufficient processing horsepower to deal with the content streamed directly from WHS and other devices. I could NEVER countenance an XBOX in my living-room – too noisy!

They could, however, use the x86 code base for WHS. That said, just because there is an entry in this file does not mean there will be a product (e.g. x86.ServerDatacenterV – 32 bit Datacenter Edition with Hyper-V…. er, no, I don’t think so).

I still think Vail will be x64 only irrespective of whether it would be technically possible to release it as x86.

If Vail is based on the current 2008 server code base then it could come in x86 and x64 variations. Given that WHS is primarily intended to be a OEM platform then I don’t think Microsoft will have any problems telling them to put x64 machines together. Driver support will be much tighter on the x64 platform (as it is today) and will greatly increase the stability of a tuner-enabled version that will live up to the reliability expectations we have from other commerical PVR products. System builders like us will just have to move to x64 if necessary. Apart from us, I don’t think too many “ordinary” customers have gone the route of re-using old hardware.

I sincerely hope that the Premium edition is characterised as being a Windows Media Center enabled version. That coupled with work we’ve seen prototyped around Live Mesh and maybe even Internet streaming (i.e. Web Guide) would potentially offer a good opportunity to market WHS as both a backup and/or media solution according to the version you buy for your OEM WHS. I think this offering will bring new players to the WHS market (Dell XPS WHS? or even Sony to convert their hockey-puck to be a WHS).

I really can’t seen any justification for a Premium version of WHS unless it takes the level of functionality (& price) up a notch. Mind you, I thought that about Vista Ultimate.

I think a huge enchancement will be adding the Windows 7 MC/WMP into the server software itself. If they do this, so many possibilities! I can think of one off the top, which would be the "play to" function where you could use the console to control each Win 7 HTPC without having to use 3rd party software.

I'm looking forward to this!

the standard version will probably be the same as now, but more evolved and with some new features.

i hope we'll know soon enough, there is that MS podcast on friday, no?