http://v3online.org/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=4 Code (markup): A few years back, when I replaced my aging Athlon XP-based home-built PC with a faster, quieter system, I stored the old one away presuming that someday I'd do something interesting with it. Microsoft's Windows Home Server proved the perfect excuse to do just that. The end result is a highly useful, though sometimes frustratingly simplistic, addition to my home tech lineup. Windows Home Server is Microsoft's first stab at a consumer server product that sits at the heart of your network where other PCs can access its content. Available now on hardware such as HP's MediaSmart Home Server or as a $180 software package from system-builder sites such as Newegg, Windows Home Server lets you store and stream media files, back up multiple PCs, and connect remotely via the Web. Plus, Microsoft says that add-on features such as video recording and home automation are on the way from third-party vendors. Windows Home Server requires an ethernet connection between the server and the network (Microsoft deemed wireless networking too flaky). I installed a prerelease copy of the operating system in about 2 hours; the only snag I hit involved enabling the remote Web access features. My router turned out to be the problem, and one I wasn't able to resolve with tech support. To connect client PCs to the server, you install a simple console application on each that also lets you tweak the server's settings. Soon, I was streaming music, photos, and standard-definition video to my 802.11g-enabled notebook, flawlessly. I experienced some stutters with a high-def test video file, but that's an 802.11g bandwidth issue. Everything streamed cleanly to my ethernet-connected Windows XP Pro PC and my Xbox 360. The 360 connection is great, as it allows me to access media where I most enjoy it: on my couch, in front of my HDTV. Windows Home Server also lets you back up the entire contents of each connected PC to the server's hard drive, as a compressed file that it updates daily with only the changes that have occurred since the last backup. The backup feature is quite slick, and it illustrates the degree to which Microsoft has successfully simplified an often-complicated process. You can add more hard drives to the server, and even enable data duplication (essentially RAID 1 data mirroring). But the nitty-gritty settings for such features are largely inaccessible, hidden behind basic wizards and check boxes. Simplicity is great, but I think enthusiasts like me will want access to more knobs and switches. Microsoft might envision a home server in every house, but I'm not sure the average PC user would even know what to do with one (yet). After having lived with the server for a few weeks, though, I can't imagine not having one--a clear sign that it's filling a need in my geek household. Better yet, it let me pull my old workhorse PC out of retirement.
Yes, have to agree, the Home Server is an excellent system when set up well. I am in the process of setting up my entire network and it is a centerpiece of what I plan to get done. The streaming, backups, single storage and being able to access it from anywhere in the world is definately the way to go.
Their OSs get better and better with each incarnation but they also get more complicated. Most people will say it's useless because like you said, the average PC user would even know what to do with it. It will be great for a small network like mine though. No need for a fully fledged server OS anymore.
Most people if they do buy this will buy it in a prebuilt system (ie, machine+OS)- a few days ago, I saw one listed at $750 Australian Dollars. Also, almost everything is wizard driven so it is quite simple to setup.
I think also that Microsoft has already started to get more and more open, you can see with Vista, that they are trying to make it more user friendly and look kind of some Unix Os. Of course, no one wants to lose money so they will continue the process a little slowly as for the interoperability with the other systems. I am not Microsoft fan at all but you see that they stated, that the users using not registered copies of Vista will still get their copies but will also frequently see a reminder message to upgrade and pay for the OS. For the thread - on user level Vista should be the most well done OS, if you have a good machine under it. A.
wow, I can't even communicate effectively between my laptop and my desktop both running XP Home! I wonder if I have any chance of setting this up! I too have an aging box or two which would be perfect!!
What OS are you talking about? We are discussing Windows Home Server in this thread. Perhaps, you may want to rant about your OS X in another thread with a bit more relevancy. Anyways, as you appear to be a zealot - here's a quote for you from a user of your latest OS X: Source- http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/11/30/0142216