Longhorn announcement from last week

Microsoft Announces 2006 Target Date for Broad Availability Of Windows "Longhorn" Client Operating System

Windows WinFX Developer Technologies Will Be Made Available For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003

1.) Microsoft is reaffirming our commitment for broad availability of the Windows “Longhorn” Client in 2006.
 
2.) Microsoft plans to make elements of Longhorn’s WinFX programming model available for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.  This will enable developers to write WinFX applications that run on hundreds of millions of PCs and offer these next generation of applications sooner. Specifically, Microsoft plans to deliver the “Avalon” and “Indigo” pillars of Longhorn’s WinFX programming model for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. 

3.) We originally planned to ship a new data storage system codenamed “WinFS” when we released the Longhorn Client. In order to deliver Longhorn’s innovations to customers as quickly as possible, we now intend to deliver WinFS after the initial availability of Longhorn client.  We continue to be committed to WinFS.  It is expected to beta when Longhorn client is broadly available.
 
The Windows “Longhorn” Server Operating System continues to be expected to be available in 2007.