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Windows Server 2003 Evaluation Kit

Tom Warren   on 19 April 2003 - 09:19 · 16 comments & 1376 views

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Thanks to ProNetPC for the heads up on this

The 180-day trial version will be available shortly after the product launches on April 24, 2003. Register today to be one of the first to receive a copy.

The Evaluation Kit
The following items are included in the Windows Server 2003 Evaluation Kit:

  • Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, RTM CD
  • Windows Server 2003 Resource CD
  • A unique Product Key (required for installation)
  • Links to additional Web-based documentation

    The Evaluation Kit is available only in English when you order it from this Web site. Localized versions may be available in other locales. We will add international Web site links as they become available.

    There is no fee for the Windows Server 2003 Evaluation Kit. As a special promotional offer, Windows Server 2003 Evaluation Kits will be shipped at no charge to customers in the United States, through July 31, 2003. (However, fees will apply if customers choose to receive their shipment via express methods.) Orders from outside the United States are subject to shipping charges and may be subject to import duties and taxes. When ordering from this site, you are considered the importer of record and must comply with all laws and regulations of the country/region in which you are receiving the shipment.

    View: Order Kit
    News source: Windows Server 2003 homepage


  • Mozillazine's forums have been inaccessable for the past couple of hours for me. When the blackout on the forums was first encountered, an error page showed a suspicious message. Note that this message has now been replaced by a "Technical Difficulties" notification. Have the forums been hacked? And by who? Perhaps by Firebird database zealots who have been trolling constantly for the past several days, or could it be some anonymous hacker, taking advantage of the immaturity of both sides of this battle, and attempting to instigate a open source war?

    Clearly, this issue must be resolved quickly before it escalates any further, but the question remains, how can both sides be appeased? Phoenix browser's developers spent a long time researching their new name on the legal battleground. The official verdict? All clear. Unfortunately, Firebird database and its supporters have put up a wall of resistance to any sort of civil discussion over the issue. Those on the old Phoenix forums who are attempting to offer their opinions and support are being overwhelmed by the sheer number of users who try to spread confusion and anger in the name of their beloved database. After having their e-mail addresses posted publicly on a Firebird Protest page, several members of the Phoenix/Firebird development team had their accounts mailbombed. Other members have even been impersonated by these childish brats. Does the Firebird database team really deserve to keep their name unique if they cater to the whims of these cretins? While the official Firebird database team has stated that they "sincerely hope to avoid" any conflicts, evidence posts on Firebird browser's forums suggest otherwise.

    Nearly every article I have come across lately has addressed this issue from Firebird Database's perspective. Perhaps it is high time to see this from the Phoenix Team's point of view.
    • Firebird is a common name, owned by a number (over 60) open source projects, none of which have attempted to secure the name as an official trademark.
    • By chance, Firebird is also a common english word, the name of a car, etc.
    • Firebird database is simply a database. Firebird browser is a browser built for surfing the net, serving the same purpose as Netscape, or IE, or Mozilla. A database is NOT the same thing as a browser.
    • The Phoenix Team did NOT know that Firebird database supporters would object to one more open source project sharing its name, in the light that there were already open source software projects existing which also had the name Firebird.
    • Claims that this naming will cause confusion have been blown out of proportion. One project is a database. The other is a browser. There is nothing stopping people from referring to one as Firebird database, and Firebird browser.
    • You don't whack someone if they happen to have the same name as you.
    I believe that there has been a misunderstanding between the two projects, however, with time, and perhaps a little tolerance, from both sides, this issue will blow itself over.

    Post a comment · Send to friend Comments · There are 16 additional comments
    #1 Chicane-UK on 19 Apr 2003 - 11:03
    I'll just wait till I go to the launch event in May.. they are bound to be handing these packs out there anyway.
    (2 replies) #2 acbd on 19 Apr 2003 - 11:26
    that's so dumb from microsoft. everyone can crack this evaluation and make it a real copy of one of their most expensive OS's
    #2.1 Xeron on 19 Apr 2003 - 13:13
    Yeah that's really dumb. And what's also dumb is them actually releasing it. I mean, everyone can make copies of it then and then own a copy of one of their most expensive OS's Whether you get hold of a copy by cracking the evaluation or copying an original, it will happen both ways and it's still illegal. Evaluations are there for businesses to evaluate the product before buying and they are really useful. I'm setting up a Windows 2003 Server using an evaluation copy to show a small company how it is way better than their existing NT4 and worth the investment.
    #2.2 boo_star on 20 Apr 2003 - 03:38
    Yeah, I mean it's not like they can't just go to any half ass site and download the full Corporate version. Geez. If youre gonna it why bother cracking the eval copy?
    (2 replies) #3 Kemistry on 19 Apr 2003 - 13:11
    You would be surprised to realize how many cracked versions of W2k Advanced Servers are out there.... IMHO Windows Product Activation has been a failure. Failed with Office XP, Windows XP and the same applies to WS 2003...
    #3.1 Xeron on 19 Apr 2003 - 13:17
    One of the main intentions for WPA was to highlight the fact that buying one copy and installing it on many machines was not what the licence covered - many people thought it was OK. It also made it more difficult to sell pirate copies as real. Whether it is the right way to go about it is another matter, but let's not go off topic
    #3.2 boo_star on 20 Apr 2003 - 03:40
    [neoquote=#3.0 by Kemistry]You would be surprised to realize how many cracked versions of W2k Advanced Servers are out there....[/neoquote] Windows 2000 wasn't protected with WPA, so there could be 100000000000000000 copies of W2K Adv Svr out there and WPA wouldn't do anything to stop it.
    (1 reply) #4 gosh on 19 Apr 2003 - 13:49
    I ordered one already. Im wondering has anyone tried ording many copies? I want to order more but can only use my address. -gosh
    #4.1 gameguy34 on 19 Apr 2003 - 20:36
    dunno about this, but when i signed up for the cpp, i signed up twice and i got two cdkeys to install with
    #5 StevoFC on 19 Apr 2003 - 13:59
    i got mine ordered
    #6 Chris123NT on 19 Apr 2003 - 15:48
    Ordered my copy
    #7 TheMack on 19 Apr 2003 - 15:57
    Wahoo, sweet deal. Can't wait to get this in the mail!
    #8 blackice912 on 19 Apr 2003 - 18:57
    Awesome, free CD *orders*
    (1 reply) #9 splendore on 19 Apr 2003 - 21:21
    you may be able to use the product key to install a pirated copy of the retail Server 2003, you never know till you try, since they "might" screw up
    #9.1 boo_star on 20 Apr 2003 - 03:42
    [neoquote=#9.0 by splendore]you may be able to use the product key to install a pirated copy of the retail Server 2003, you never know till you try, since they "might" screw up[/neoquote] What's ironic is the fact that the keys for the CPP were for what, 10 uses? If these keys last that long you could easily use 2k3 server until its shelf life is gone (5 years)
    #10 nimasoft on 21 Apr 2003 - 07:28
    yea i tried to order but since i live in canada, it was gonna charge me 12 bucks US so i juss cancelled.

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