Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7

Question

Which OS would you recommend for a development machine:

• Windows Server 2008 R2

or

• Windows 7

As of now, most "web developers" probably use Windows Server 2008 because of IIS and Vista SuckingBigTime.

Does this change with Windows 7? Can we finally use a client OS on a client computer again or the time has yet to come?

Solution 1

This is not a definative list and can be expanded by other editors if so required but:

Windows 7

• Desktop OS so supports sleep/hibernate
• Windows XP Mode for XP based testing
• May have a smaller footprint than Server
• May have more GUI Bling than Server
• Has pretty animation when you boot up!
• Can run all Windows OS's that you may need to deploy your application on with 3rd-Party Hypervisor
• Native bluetooth stack

Windows 2008 R2

• Server OS may support sleep/hibernate if no Hyper-V enabled
• Ships with a free Hypervisor (HyperV)
• Maybe faster a specific tasks due to optimizations made
• May have a larger footprint than Desktop
• Can run all Windows OS's that you may need to deploy your application on
• No bluetooth capabilities

Both OS's

• Built on the same kernel
• Have the same networking stack
• Share the same GUI

Decision

• Go with what fits your needs.

Just for the record I have used Windows 2008 as my desktop of choice since the early beta's. I may have lost my sleep/hibernate but I can make my coffee while my machine boots in the morning.

Also I did not mention running other OS's in the Hypervisors but you could do that as well.

Solution 2

My only beef with 2008 R2 was the lack of Bluetooth support, which meant no keyboard and mouse for me...so, I went for 7.

With it's full version of IIS, I can't beat it - totally awesome.

Running it though a MacBookPro with 4GB of RAM and a i7 920 with 12GB - both x64 (obviously) - not a single complaint!

Solution 3

Windows 7 :

• The Windows XP mode will certainly prove invaluable.
• I don't need IIS for .NET development : Visual Studio comes with a test server. There must exist lightweight servers for other technologies.
• If IIS was needed (for testing purposes), I would create a virtual environment with a Windows Server 200x.

Solution 4

Windows 7 - There are some client apps that do not run on windows 2008

Solution 5

Windows Server 2008 R2 is a server edition, it comes with a lot of tools to manage a computer network, and as a developer you just won't use it. It's better to wait for Windows 7 in shops or directly grab it from MSDN.

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Comments

[Mikeon]

Lack of Bluetooth support is a major issue on a client OS, good thing you point that out. Also full IIS is a must.

[gbjbaanb]

wait? Its available on the MSDN for download now. Admittedly the lack of drivers, bugs and SP1 might be an issue. :)

[Mikeon]

Remember I'm talking about web development mostly - so IIS proper IIS is a must which Kieron already cleared.

[Shiraz Bhaiji]

@Kieron - The one I heard that did not work was Zune.