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Microsoft to Keep Windows Home Server Simple

Posted by Emil Protalinski on 12 January 2007 - 14:09 · 34 comments & 11312 views

Microsoft is targeting its Windows Home Server at mainstream consumers – the average Joe. The operating system is meant to run on its own computer that backs up data from all home computers on a given network, streams media (taken from Windows XP Media Center Edition) and provides remote access to documents over the internet. The software is obviously aimed at households with at least two other computers which is a market Microsoft estimates at about 40 million to 45 million worldwide. Such a device should retail between $500 and $1,000, depending on hardware, especially hard disk drive, specifications. The operating system is based on Windows Server 2003 and although it borrows from other Microsoft technologies, it has its own unique ones as well.

"The goal is trying to take the seams out [of backup and recovery]. There are too many choices and too many knobs and we ask too many questions. And we expect the people to know the answers to every question. We are designing the product for families and the second-tier purchaser, the enthused follower who really looks at the enthusiast for guidance. The dream is that for Father's Day, a wife would buy one for her husband because she understands the benefits of backup and remote access,” said Todd Headrick, a senior product manager with Microsoft.

News source: vnunet.com

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(1 reply) #1 Posted by Tomo on 12 Jan 2007 - 14:18: Quote -
The dream is that for Father's Day, a wife would buy one for her husband because she understands the benefits of backup and remote access

Yeh that's the first thing that springs to mind

(1 reply) #2 Posted by TheReaperMan on 12 Jan 2007 - 14:28: mm yeah, here you go hubby a new server for you to back up all your porn on to

(2 replies) #3 Posted by Davebo on 12 Jan 2007 - 14:45: Todd Headrick, like most of the muckity-mucks at MS, has no grasp on reality.

(1 reply) #4 Posted by markjensen on 12 Jan 2007 - 14:49: I am wondering if this is going to be headless and accessed through some sort of web interface, or use a local keyboard/mouse/display? I am going to guess it uses both. Initial setup (and for those who only think of adminning a PC locally) will be done by plugging keyboard and display in. Maintenance and changes optionally done via a web interface.

(2 replies) #5 Posted by ir0nw0lf on 12 Jan 2007 - 14:50: Husband to Wife: "Make sure it has dual Geforce 8800GTX's in it, um, yeah, it will accelerate the backups. Yeah, that's it..."

#6 Posted by digitalsoft on 12 Jan 2007 - 14:56: I cant wait for this i will defo buy one - i know its probably pointless might aswell build a system and put win server on it but im lazy, i like this as its all done for you!

(6 replies) #7 Posted by xxdesmus on 12 Jan 2007 - 15:09: I wish it had Exchange support, but that seems to have been ignored. Oh well, still it sounds pretty cool.

#8 Posted by drygnfyre on 12 Jan 2007 - 15:16: Interesting idea

(2 replies) #9 Posted by majortom1981 on 12 Jan 2007 - 17:20: Hardware with this installed will ahve no video cards ,or ports for keyboards. Just like a nas device

It will basically be a smart nas device for the home.

Go to paul thurrots site he has more info on it.

Also it will ahve no drive letters, and will do something sort of like raid but not

This does an awful lot but its basically a smart nas device.
If you build it yourself it will be a computer but alot of the things that will be already built are just like nas devices. only have a network connection and power cable.

#10 Posted by Julius Caro on 12 Jan 2007 - 20:33: Is this going to be a "Home Multimedia Server" or something? I would like that idea
I mean, think about it. Nowadays, it's all about making your own pc a media center, sorting your pictures, videos and music in all possible ways. But what happens when you have 3 or more computers in your house? Or two OSes on the same computer? Are you supposed to build entirely different music/pictures/video libraries in all of them? I wish I could have ALL our music/videos/pictures in one computer, and windows gave each computer the choice of "synchronizing" whatever we wanted to or from that "server" pc. We would need a HUGE hard drive though!

So, I like the idea
And, it's even better if files are accessible from the internet. If I'm on my laptop in University and want to stream some files... definitely useful!

#11 Posted by Angel Blue01 on 12 Jan 2007 - 21:11: I'm in the only family I know who has more than 2 computers. No one sees the point of a media center PC much less a home server.

(1 reply) #12 Posted by trparky on 12 Jan 2007 - 21:27: Believe me, we need this. Most people who use computers wouldn't be able to find their ass with their hands and a road map.

Don't believe me? Go up to any person on the street and ask them if they have a computer. They'll ask "You mean that thing sitting under my desk?" or my personal favorite "You mean my hard drive?".

#13 Posted by Typhon on 12 Jan 2007 - 23:55: This sounds very promising and cool. I will defiantly be getting one to replace my backup system.

#14 Posted by excalpius on 13 Jan 2007 - 04:13: If it doesn't break the retarded 10 shared connections limitation, I won't be buying or recommending it.

(2 replies) #15 Posted by Havin_it on 13 Jan 2007 - 05:35: Is this how Microsoft plan to finally "dominate the server space"?

I just can't see them selling more than a dozen of these in the next 5 years ... for the main selling-points they're pushing, there are entry-level devices out there already at a fraction of the price. And for those with a bit more computing nous, they're more likely to just get some old iron at a knockdown price and load it with Windows 2K/2K3 Server or *nix.

#16 Posted by Andy13 on 13 Jan 2007 - 20:42: Quote -
The dream is that for Father's Day, a wife would buy one for her husband because she understands the benefits of backup and remote access,” said Todd Headrick, a senior product manager with Microsoft.

How...sexist. *rolls eyes*

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