Today I was talking with Kevin Clough, a developer at Collages.Net (where I work as well). We were discussing Microsoft's software and how it was extremely useful (we are both .NET programmers, though professionally I handle networks - not software design) but that many open source advocates still wouldn't use it (both of us are open source fans and utilize significant amounts of open source software ourselves). I noted that one item hampering even larger adoption of Microsoft products (except for some open source purists, who would never convert) is while the development tools have been made free (through the Express line) one still has to shell out over $700 for a license of Windows Server 2003. This is far too much for a hobbyist (oftentimes). At which point Kev remarked, "That's why they should make Windows Server 2003 Express Edition."

    Wow. What a light bulb. It makes sense. Many other Microsoft products have gone "Express" in order to attract the hordes of developers who cannot afford to shell out for the full application. These applications attract individuals who are hobbyists or part of small companies and cannot afford the costs of the true enterprise applications. Yet these applications are full-featured enough to handle many of the development tasks facing the hobbyist/small business. Microsoft previously had been losing many of these individuals/businesses to the open source and commodity markets. Now they have a way to scoop developers in early and then begin to reap the profits as the businesses grow and expand. Its a win-win deal.

    However, in general, Microsoft's free tools have been in the development arena. A significant (arguable) exception is SQL Server 2005 Express (and MSDE before it). While it does include a development environment, it is also technically a runtime, production environment. So, my suggestion to Microsoft - give us an Express Edition of 2003 R2 and soon to 2008.

    What features should be included in this version? In my mind it should mainly be a application server. Thus it doesn't need to include functionality such as Active Directory, Distributed File System, DHCP, etc. etc. It also doesn't need advanced application capabilities such as Network Load Balancing. But it should include the uncrippled ability to run applications and IIS 6. This would allow developers to install SQL Server Express 2005 and IIS 6 on the server and run a full web or application server. It also might well include DNS (though not essential).

    This could then be used by developers to set up small deployments at their homes or small businesses - or to create virtual instances on Amazon's EC2. Of course, there is a downside - not for Microsoft directly as for its resellers. Companies that make their bread and butter from dedicated hosting, virtual private hosting, and shared hosting could find significant market share disappearing as users begin configuring their own servers. Microsoft would also probably need to forbid hosting companies from using the Express Edition software, otherwise many hosting companies might begin deploying ee (I'll use small e's to differentiate from Enterprise) for hostees rather than the full editions.

    What do you think? What features would Microsoft need to include in this base bundle? What features wouldn't be needed? Would Microsoft ever go for this? Would it be a good idea or bad idea for Microsoft? Has the current Express line been a success or failure? How would your hobby/business change if Microsoft did release an ee edition?