Serving It
Like pretty much everyone else, the Advanced Streaming Format supports streaming from a streaming server or a typical Web server. And just like everyone else, a streaming server is going to offer a more robust streaming package.

To set up for streaming the Advanced Streaming Format, you will need Windows Media Services running on your server. Windows Media Services is a free download but here is where the free ride ends. You will need Microsoft NT 4 Server installed on your server to use Windows Media Services. To make things plug-and-play, Microsoft has teamed up with Compaq to offer a complete Windows Media Training Server system. For under $4000, you gain everything you need to start streaming immediately.

Macintosh Support
My one big criticism with Windows Media? Despite huge growth in their Macintosh software lineup over the last couple of years, the Microsoft Media Player beta still lags behind its Windows sibling. Likewise, ASF production tools for the Mac are nonexistent. Why is this important in a world still ruled by PC's? Because a large number of content producers, especially in the world of multimedia, are still Macintosh users. Don't think so? I live in Microsoft's backyard. Even here in Seattle, a show of hands at a large producers conference revealed that roughly 80% of the group consisted of Macintosh users. Mac content producers will accept cross-platform environments. But they are hesitant to develop for any approach that is a one system wonder. Windows Media Technologies and the Advanced Streaming Format has a way to go before being considered a cross-platform environment.

The long term prognosis for Mac production tools is looking up. Microsoft employs a good number of Macintosh programmers. And while they have some catching up to do, it is possible they could roll out Mac production tools within a year if Microsoft made it a priority.