Windows Server Team director Iain McDonald announced that Windows "Longhorn" Server Beta 3 has shipped.

Longhorn Server is to Windows Server 2003 what Vista is to XP, with major improvements in networking, security, and remote access. Beta 3 is the first public release, meaning developers and IT types (and pretty much anyone else) can download the evaluation version of Longhorn Server for free.

You'll also be able to get order a copy directly, and the team's put together a pretty funny video showing the brainstorming process for other distribution methods.

As we pointed out yesterday, that's not to say that this is an easy way to get a free operating system. Betas expire, and when they do, they can take your whole system with you if you don't upgrade.

[via Windows Now]