Microsoft’s latest Windows server and client platforms’re nothing short of joined at the hip, although Windows Server 2008 R2 preceded Windows 7 to the market by over a month. Windows 7 “sports the closest relationship with Windows Server since Windows 2000. Put Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 on the same set of network cables and all kinds of new abilities are suddenly yours to command, including uber-flexible desktop and application virtualization with Remote Desktop Services, seamless remote productivity with DirectAccess, smiling branch office workers with BranchCache and happier desktop administrators who get loads of new options for managing desktops right down to the bare metal on each and every desk,” said Oliver Rist.