Microsoft have confirmed some interesting snippets about server support for 2010.
You should refer to the following for installation guidance:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee554869(office.14).aspx
Its interesting to note that sharePoint is not supported on 'Server Core' installations of Windows Server 2008 and R2. The Server Core installations of Windows server do not contain some of the components required for SharePoint to be configured or run, so forget thinking about "light" footprints.
| Windows version/edition (64 bit only) | SharePoint 2010 support |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation | No |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard | Yes |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise | Yes |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter | Yes |
| Windows Web Server 2008 R2 | No |
| Windows HPC Server 2008 | No |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based systems | No |
| Windows Server 2008 Standard | Yes |
| Windows Server 2008 Enterprise | Yes |
| Windows Server 2008 Datacenter | Yes |
| Windows Web Server 2008 | No |
| Windows Storage Server 2008 | No |
| Windows Small Business Server 2008 | Yes* |
| Windows Essential Business Server 2008 | Yes* |
| Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based systems | No |
| Windows Server 2008 Foundation | No |
| Windows Vista | Developer-only** |
| Windows 7 | Developer-only** |
* Small and Essential Business Server editions of Windows install SharePoint as an optional component.
** Support for specific editions of Windows 7/Vista are yet to be finalized, but are likely to be 'Business'/'Professional' editions and above.
This is a quick reference list lifted from the Sharepoint teams MSDN Blog, but you can look it up yourself here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc262485(office.14).aspx