I am a beta tester for Windows Home Server.

I installed it a month or so ago and really do not see the point of it.

I mean really, what does it do that I can not already do?

So far NOTHING!

I am quite sure it will be available to buy on it's own. The demos have looked wonderful for this product, it is exactly what I need and want for my home.

It is the only product from Microsoft I have ever been a bit excited of... I hope they don't ruin it by not making it available...

Sucks that it won't be available for retail, but makes sense when you stop to think who it's targeted at.

The target market for this doesn't go out and buy operating systems. They want to buy a device that just works and does what they want it says without being a PITA.

It was designed so you could buy a WHS appliance, plug it in, throw the connector CD in your desktop/laptop/etc and go.

For those of us interested in building our own, there *will* be OEM versions available so we get what we want as well. Hopefully they will not be too terribly expensive as, since they're OEM, upgrades / replacements of the server become an issue.

I will stay with linux!

ok...uh, good for you?

so will I ..........
But this is a Great HOME SERVER FOR NEWBIES !

Yeah, stay there. :) This isn't meant for your kind anyways.

I'll stay with Coca Cola, but that doesn't have anything to do with Windows Home Server either.

Pepsi is where it's at... DOH!

Very strange. Microsoft previously stated Home Server would be available at retail. What happened? This is very disappointing!

Yeah, seems like they would want that revenue. Obviously they think it will push some hardware for their partners. There's a whole bunch of potential customers who won't buy the hardware but might buy the stand-alone program. As suggested below, OEM versions will probably be available for purchase on the web.

Retail release was never on the cards according to MS Australia - their partner roadshow made that VERY clear.

This will be great for home pc users.

If home users want to spend a lot of money, then yeah, it will be.

The reason home servers/backup haven't taken off is you need RAID, you need a lot of room, and you need it to not be complex for the end-user. Hopefully this is a step in the right dir.

hmm...you cant buy it on it's own but you can through HP, Gateway, etc. i'd rather just build my own box and install the software from scratch. here's hoping that you'll be able to buy the OS via OEM.

According to the WHS team the software will be available on an OEM basis like MCE et al.

Alex, at the core, it's based on Small Business Server 2003 SP2, with some custom software to do things such as manage letter-less drives for expansion, backups, image restore to pc's from the backups, drive shares and easy permissions, streaming of media to things like xbox 360's or MC extenders, remote access via simple webpage login using RDP in a window. There's a lot of good things about this software.

The purpose of this product is for the user who barely knows how to turn the pc on.

Anyone that has 2003 will probably not be interested as its a lot more limited

"The purpose of this product is for the user who barely knows how to turn the pc on."

That's am utterly stupid comment. The product is intended for home users, who would have no interest in having a server operating system but want some of the capabilities. WHS provides a simple and easy to setup system for backup and sharing. It doesn't require a systems admin, or even a keybord and monitor. For the most part, you set it up and then leave it alone.

The market for the product is somewhere between the person who "barely knows how to turn the pc on" and skilled, although sometimes arrogant, users like yourself.

Wow, touched a nerve?

So, basically again you said everything I did in a more elaborate method but its still basically aimed at those people.

People that do know how to manage their pcs and require a server, use either windows server or some form of linux.

Touched a nerve? Hardly. I just stated my opinion, as I assume you were doing. Nothing personal.

And no, I did not repeat what you said. In case you missed it, I pointed out that there is a significant difference, one that you fail to acknowledge, between someone who can barely turn on a pc and an average home user. Apparently you consider anyone with less than your claimed level of knowledge "barely able to turn on a pc." It's that attitude that brought the words "stupid" and "arrogant" to my mind.

Your final statement is obviously not true, otherwise the WHS product would not exist, nor would it be as well received as it is.

Is this based on Server 2003 with the traditional Windows interface and layout or is it an offshot of Vista?

It's based on Small Business Server 2003, but future versions might be based on Server 2008. It does have the traditional Windows Interface, but is meant to be used without a keyboard or monitor. There is a web interface that seems pretty good for the average user, or you can use Remote desktop to admin it if you want to mess with the core OS a little more.

I think I will keep my 2 Server 2003 machines, just cause I like to run things in my underware dosent mean I dont need or use all the bells and whistles.

" The OS likely won't be available to buy on its own, but a 120-day evaluation version will be posted for download."

The story just keeps changing. One thing I'm sure of, if it is not available to buy on it's own, it will very likely be available for "download."

wasn't that the same deal with Media Center? It should eventually come out as OEM software on newegg or something.

Yes, XP MCE was OEM only. It still is afaik. WHS will be similar as oems will try to create unique non-PC-like form factors. Some MCE machines look like stereo components.