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Beta Test Windows Home Server

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

February 12, 2007, 4:39 PM

After first unveiling the product at CES in January, Microsoft on Monday released Beta 2 of Windows Home Sever, and is opening up the beta program to a broader group of external testers. Previous releases were tested by over 1,000 Microsoft employees and the Redmond company's partners.

Windows Home Server, known by the code-name Quattro, is designed to enable families with multiple PCs connect their home computers, digital devices and printers so they can easily store and access their digital media and documents. HP has announced the first Windows Home Server-based product, dubbing it: MediaSmart Server. Those interested in joining the beta test can apply on Microsoft Connect. A new Windows Home Server blog has also been created to supply more information.

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By ds0934

posted Feb 13, 2007 - 11:56 AM

The linked MS Connect site seems to be unavailable now. No mention on the Available Connections page either. Bummer.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Feb 13, 2007 - 4:34 PM

By Nate Mook, BetaNews
February 12, 2007, 4:39 PM

Ya gotta be faster than ~23 hours, man. :p

Admittedly, my app doesn't appear to have been processed yet even though I hit it shortly after the story was originally posted here, so I don't know how much good being faster would have been for ya.

What amazes me, is that it's an MS beta product (albeit closed ftm) that I actually cannot find *anywhere* on the usenet. Very unusual.

Score: 0

By ds0934

posted Feb 13, 2007 - 9:17 AM

Robert Scoble had some interesting comments on this regarding how MS would market this product. It's a bit too simplistic for the real tech-geeks, and not Apple-ish enough for the tech-clueless. Sounds like it might be best offered through local partners in a service-oriented arrangement where they would offer to come out and install/setup for a nominal fee. The upper income folk might bite at that. I suppose we'll see when it finally hits the shelves.

Score: 0

By PostDeals

posted Feb 12, 2007 - 10:46 PM

Well its not idiot proof i mean if you can get selected and actually purchase the software then you know what you are doing. My dad is not going to go buy VISTA until I buy it and install it for him and show him how to do it. Now if VISTA was all he could ever get then he will eventually have to learn it.

Microsoft's philosophy is flood the market with their propriety software and have people adapt to it by force.

Score: 0

By kletiz

edited Feb 12, 2007 - 5:04 PM

How idiot proof do you think they're going to have to make that? Thoughtful idea however.

Score: 0

By Paul Skinner

posted Feb 12, 2007 - 6:00 PM

If it's nice and simple, I think it could actually work on some level.

The main problem they're going to have is making non-I.T. folk understand what a network is and why it would be beneficial to them.

Score: 0

By dvferret

posted Feb 12, 2007 - 7:00 PM

Yes, I could only imagine all of the people calling up the help lines trying to figure out what all of this "stuff" is.

Score: 0

By The MAZZTer

posted Feb 12, 2007 - 8:47 PM

Don't worry, it's MS, they'll find a way to make it work properly for 90% of everyone without configuration required. The last 10% will call us for help. :( And of course it will be so "user-friendly" we'll have trouble getting it to DO what we want it to.

Score: 0

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