Windows Server 2008: Microsoft has listened to users

Davis said: "On one level it's a progression. For security and operational purposes, having these different deployment versions is a key benefit."

Davis singled out the BitLocker drive encryption as a key feature as it will mean less time will be taken up responding to security incidents such as viruses.

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He agreed people may wait for the service packs to emerge. He said: "Nobody's going to go for the first release of the product. The bigger take-up will start in 2009 with it ramping up in 2010."

He predicted there will be a two to three per cent take-up during the first year of release. "Any business that is trying to do a technology refresh will be interested," he said.

In order to generate demand, Davis added Microsoft will need to provide plenty of detail. He said: "It needs to be a continuous feed of information from Microsoft about what can be done [with Server 2008]."

John Enck, research VP at Gartner, said: "There are not a lot of big features. With this release, what we're really looking at is lots of little features. There's been a lot of good structural changes."

He also suggested significant take-up will happen when companies replace servers, rather than there being an immediate rush. "I'm not anticipating a full rollout any time soon. People move very slowly," he said.

All three analysts downplayed the significance of Hyper V, the virtualisation part of Server 2008. Enck said: "I always put the virtualisation part aside. The Hyper V really needs to show some stability. It's simply unproven."

Illsley and Davis agreed, saying the maturity of virtualisation products from companies such as VMWare mean Microsoft's version won't automatically become the default.

Research by tech company CDW Corporation found 63 per cent (of the 772 tech professionals quizzed) will upgrade to Windows Server 2008 with 18 per cent already installing it or planning to do so.

Microsoft confirmed that General Motors, Newham Borough Council, London Underground maintenance group Tube Lines and food company Windrush, have been testing the OS and will go live with the launch version.