As it makes moves towards a single Windows platform for 64-bit computing, Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday offered to customers in its preview program new 64-bit desktop software builds as well as a fresher Windows Server 2003 Enterprise x64 Edition. In addition, the Redmond, Wash. company said it had changed the name of its Windows XP 64-bit for Extended 64-bit Systems to Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.
This prerelease software, which support both Intel- and AMD x64-compatible platforms, is available for evaluation through the Customer Preview Program for the XP Professional x64 Edition and for the Server 2003 Edition.
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is expected to ship in the first half of 2005 as it is part of the Windows Server 2003 SP1 ship schedule and will be released at the same time as that product. Microsoft said in July that it was pushing back these releases from the end of this year as a result of delays with Windows XP SP2.