Well, I'd like to say some words about your article, Well, It is not like other articles, it is different.
Hi, My name is Jack Black,my blog is http://jackisgoodguy.spaces.live.com

Wow!! I've finally found a reason to sign up to betanews.

I read this page, and in the short time it's taken I've literally started to hate someone!! I mean really, hate someone to the point where I'll actually leave a comment! (which is tough to do - the activation email has been sitting unused in my inbox since 11/15/06)

Good Job!!

Oh and there's some new software - that's er.. interesting...

Heh...

Free vs. paid:

Sure, I can walk the 3 miles to work, or I could pay the "gas tax" (figuratively and literally) and save 40 minutes.

Sure, if I was a health-nut (no offense to the health nuts) or a tree hugger (feel free to be offended) it might make sense to walk. The average person, however, would much rather take the easy route and drive.

Wow, another person so stupid to think Windows is good. Hilarious how it's the same troll every single day. The opposite of everything toolie says is true. Toolie — keep your idiotic politics to yourself, or take it to one of your wacknut blogs. That crap doesn't belong here, since I'm sure your political views are as uninformed as your tech knowledge.

you calling someone a troll, priceless

The Force just isn't with you today man. Your trolls aren't nearly as amusing as they usually are.

*yawn*

Let me know when you get some better material.

To anyone who thinks that if you're a techie that you should not spend 190 bucks on this:

Here's a "techie's" opinion.

Q: Can you buy Server 2003 with 10 users for 190 bucks?
A: No. Not legitimately that I know of. It's considerably more.

Q: Can you host multiple virtual sites with their own domain names with IIS in WinXP?
A: NO. You're limited to one virtual site. WinXP isn't even a server OS, it's a WORKSTATION OS so you're limited to 10 connections without hacking.
So those of you thinking of using WinXP as a "server" are just doing it wrong. Use a REAL server OS, posers.

Honestly, 190 bucks for the ability to back up desktops to a central server with easy drive space expansion and the ability to add third party free or paid for add-in programs, Website, virtual domain name without needing a third party DNS product (like No-Ip or the like), streaming audio and video from a central source through a home is *WORTH IT*. The disaster recovery for pc's is brainless, it doesn't require a lot of know how to do, and quite honestly, I hate having to tinker with stuff like that. If the product works out of the box and doesn't require a license for each PC you have, well isn't that worth it?

I love to tinker and such, but sometimes it's nice to have a product that has all that in one spot where I don't have to *THINK* because sometimes, when I get home from work that's the LAST thing I want to do, is *think*. I want to *relax*. Playing "tech support" for everyone all the time is a real pain in the behind.

I've been hoping for a simple product like this for a long time.

Finally, someone who gets it... I was beinging to wonder if all the sanity had left the board...

Thank you well said

from the M$ site:

* Organize your most important information in one central place

Can already do that by using a file share in Windows.

* Automatic daily backups of your home PCs

You can burn backups of your personal data to DVD or even CDROM already as your machine most likely has a burner. If you want to spend $190, plus the cost of additional hard drives, to do this you can, but in the end you should back up to a removable media anyhow, so why bother with the $190 server? Plus you are now going to have the upgrade tax from M$.

* Restore lost files or an entire PC

see above backup solution.

* Access all your stuff on your Windows Home Server from your networked PCs

simply share the drive in Windows. No need for a $190 server to do it.

* Share photos and home videos through a personalized web address

There are countless web sites out there to share pictures and videos. You could spend $190 and deal with the hassle of setting it all up and maintaining it, or just use a free website and be done.

* Easy and quick setup

If you know nothing about computers, it is not easy and quick to setup.

* Expandable storage space for future use

You can add more storage to your existing PC's as well. Why buy another box with another copy of Windows just to add more disk space?

* Innovative third-party applications

there are more applications for your desktop and the web than there will ever be for M$ Home Server

* Organize your most important information in one central place

Can already do that by using a file share in Windows. [/i]

No, you can't. You'll end up with multiple shares on multiple computers, and they won't be automatically backed up, and they won't be redundant. You also have to create the file share. With WHS, it's taken care of.

[i]* Automatic daily backups of your home PCs

You can burn backups of your personal data to DVD or even CDROM already as your machine most likely has a burner. If you want to spend $190, plus the cost of additional hard drives, to do this you can, but in the end you should back up to a removable media anyhow, so why bother with the $190 server? Plus you are now going to have the upgrade tax from M$.[/i]

Show me some proof that DVD's a re more reliable than a redundant array of hard drives. Again, you with WHS, you don't have to back anything up, it's taken care of.

[i]* Restore lost files or an entire PC

see above backup solution.[/i]

Yes. Awesome. 5 DVD's and hours of swapping vs. 1 CD and 15 minutes. DVDs are *slow*. Put the restore CD in and...it's taken care of.

[i]* Access all your stuff on your Windows Home Server from your networked PCs

simply share the drive in Windows. No need for a $190 server to do it.[/i]

Or don't. Install WHS and it's backed up, redundant, and ... taken care of.

[i]* Share photos and home videos through a personalized web address

There are countless web sites out there to share pictures and videos. You could spend $190 and deal with the hassle of setting it all up and maintaining it, or just use a free website and be done.[/i]

What hassle? I'll ask again: What hassle? It's taken care of. You've obviously *never* used it.

[i]* Easy and quick setup

If you know nothing about computers, it is not easy and quick to setup. [/i]

Proof you're on crack. It is plug and go. You plug it in, turn it on, and it is taken care of. The documentation with the OS is probably some of the best OS documentation I've seen since DOS.

[i]* Expandable storage space for future use

You can add more storage to your existing PC's as well. Why buy another box with another copy of Windows just to add more disk space?[/i]

Central, redundant, backed up. Taken care of.

[i]* Innovative third-party applications

there are more applications for your desktop and the web than there will ever be for M$ Home Server

He says, speaking out of his ass.

Okay. You've now proven beyond all doubt that you are incapable of looking at this rationally. You are simply here to b*tch about yet another MS product you've *never* used or even looked at for anything other than "Hmm...what else can I b*tch about".

Have fun with that.

Everyone talks about how you can "do it on the web, put your pictures out there, put your data out there", yadda yadda yadda

First of all: Some of us don't want our personal property outside of our network. What happens if said company decides to suddenly declare that any data put up there is theirs and you didn't notice in the agreement when you signed up? What's to guarantee that your data is safe from theft by said company?

Second: Some of us don't want offline storage of everything. Dollar for dollar, hard drives still are cheaper than DVD's. Some of us want instant storage for large amounts of data that is duplicated without worrying about losing a hard disk and not having to "deal with the hassle" of incompatible, sometimes incomprehensible, fickle Linux systems and Samba glitches. Don't get me wrong, I think Linux is great, but it's a different bird from Windows, and whether you like it or not, Windows still is much easier to administer, install, and configure than Linux. You still need the hardware and then find the OS and download it and install it. Joe public could go buy a 600 dollar pc pre configured that just needs to be plugged into the network and BAM it's done after a short setup routine of a client software.

Third: Some of us actually want a real server OS, not a workstation OS that could exclude anyone from attaching to it because a pc can hold a connection open. Since a workstation os is limited to 10 connections (without hacking files, which Joe Public won't have the knowledge to do either), what're you gonna do? Reboot pc's. Wheeeeee! How convenient! Including your "server". Being based on Win2003 Server and NOT XP, WHS isn't limited on connections, ONLY accounts. You can have as many pc's as you want, but only 10 user accounts.

Dude, just admit the software is not for you, stop badmouthing it simply because you don't want it. This is not a "who's e-genitals are larger". We're impressed that you can do it all on your own, but we really could care less.

I'm thinking more about my mom and grandma, or my aunt and uncle, or my girlfriend who says "the internet is down" when she simply hasn't connected her wireless. We're talking about a product for NON-techies that gives them a lot of powerful features and data security. I for one am sick and tired of cleaning off malware and malfunctioning software from your so-called "free" sites on the internet.

Oh and if you're having problems with DEP and installing a driver, maybe you should stop and think: The drivers are crap if they trigger off DEP!!!!

How long have you worked for M$?

FIRST:
What happens when someone hacks your Home Server and steals all your files? What happens if your kid runs a magnet over the hard disk?

You can dodge the point by creating pointless speculation. Typical M$ FUD pattern.

SECOND:
Why are you bringing up Linux/Samba? I mentioned that no where in my post. Your opinions of the ease of use of Windows versus Linux is yours. You obviously have never installed a distro like Ubuntu. Give it a try before you make blanket statements like that.

Third:
How many homes have more than 10 machines? I guess you are refering to Windows as my Linux Workstation does not have that limitation.

Dude, i am just pointing out that Windows Home Server is a turd. It offers nothing that you can not already do very easily for _free_. You don't need _any_ new hardware or software.

"I for one am sick and tired of cleaning off malware and malfunctioning software from your so-called "free" sites on the internet."

What free sites did i mention? I did not, but let me through a few at you....Snapfish installs malware? Picassa Web Albums installs malware? Wow, you are getting desperate.

"Plus you are now going to have the upgrade tax from M$."

I have seen this a lot from you in your posts... WTH? What upgrade tax? When a new OS comes out, it's a new product. You can buy new or upgrade or stay at the same level. I have customers who are still running Win98SE and have no reason to upgrade.

Make some sense before you post, or at best do some friggin' homework.

"FIRST:
What happens when someone hacks your Home Server and steals all your files? What happens if your kid runs a magnet over the hard disk?"

Let's speculate with YOUR solution, shall we? So, I go out and buy myself a hosted domain and point it to my home XP box sitting behind my router. Someone hacks it and steals all my files... Gee, funny thing, that is exactly what you suggested earlier as a "free solution". So, on the other hand, I setup my WHS and run the same risk. My point here is that your argument is ridiculous. If someone hacks into my network or one of my kids runs a magnet over one of my hard disks (like I would let my children sit there and mess with my machine at all), then it doesn't matter what OS I have or how much I paid for it.

"Dude, i am just pointing out that Windows Home Server is a turd. It offers nothing that you can not already do very easily for _free_. You don't need _any_ new hardware or software."

Sure, you can do lots of things for free... the fact of the matter is that you have all these hokey solutions, for the low price of free, and what you end up paying is free time. The average home user does not want to have to remember to backup their machines or swap DVDs in and out or even remember where they have their music. You are obviously not average and if you don't want to pay for it, don't. MSFT is not going to lose any sleep over the fact that you are cheap.

$190 for an OS that consolidates a lot of "free" functionality into a single package with mind-numbingly ease of use OOB is going to sell to the general public despite your opinions.

How many patches and fixes do they get running Win 98SE?

But that was not my solution. I did not make the argument, i was replying to a post pointing out the ridiculousness of it.

But to take the random direction your post is going in....what i said in a prior post is to get a _hosted_ domain for as little as $3.95 a month. That means you don't do anything and a company like godaddy does the hard parts. M$ hates that because there is no lock-in to their products. They, like you, want people to run more Windows boxes.

Wow, you are all pissy about it. All's i am pointing out it that windows already gives you most of this functionality today. Why spend $190 + money for hard drives, etc... for something you already have.

Backing up a directory of music to a dvd or cd is not hard and the best part of it is your machine does it today if you have a burner which most people do.

This is the point which has your panties in a knot.

Obviously none except for 3rd party products. My point is that you are in no way FORCED to pay for a new OS or to upgrade your current one if you don't want to. No one is twisting your arm and saying "upgrade or never use your PC again".

"This is the point which has your panties in a knot."

No, actually, almost every point you have made has me scratching my head.

"what i said in a prior post is to get a _hosted_ domain for as little as $3.95 a month. That means you don't do anything and a company like godaddy does the hard parts. M$ hates that because there is no lock-in to their products. They, like you, want people to run more Windows boxes."

Ok, fine, so what then are you going to do with that hosted domain? It has to point somewhere and do something, does it not? Otherwise, what is the point of having it? As I pointed out before, to share media and files outside of my home network requires a knowledge of IIS (or Apache, or whatever), DNS, a knowledge of how and what to share through my hosted domain, and the ability to know how to configure a firewall to allow that traffic in and route properly. GoDaddy is by no means easy in that regard. I have multiple domains setup through them and I will tell you that their toolkit does not offer media sharing as a service. There is, however, Orb. I will give you that for a free solution for sharing files outside of your home network securely. It's fairly easy to setup and use, but it's another bolt-on product that you have to learn and most home users that aren't involved with technology don't even know that it exists.

"Backing up a directory of music to a dvd or cd is not hard and the best part of it is your machine does it today if you have a burner which most people do."

So, am I to assume you have less than 9gb of files that you need to backup? I have customers that are not technical by any means with over 40 gigs of just music they have bought from . Not to mention all the digital phots, files, email attachments, emails, etc... So, with the DVD backups, I still maintain, who is going to want to spend all the time every day swapping out DVDs for their backup?

The DVD backup solution worked 5 years ago when people kept a relitively small amount of data on their machines and 4.7 gigs or 8.4 gigs was more than enough space to do a backup. This is the main reason people DON'T backup. Swapping out DVDs and/or CDs is simply not feasable anymore. People forget. People are lazy. Plain and simple. So, sure, you have a free (almost, let's not forget that DVDs still cost more per gigabyte versus hard drives) backup solution, but a lot of people value free time over paying any amount of money for something to do it for them.

Simply put, even though YOU don't agree with it, WHS does answer a need in the home network market.

He hates anything with the name Microsoft on it, we have grown to expect this kind of comment from him.

Yeah I know... pretty damn lame... what happened to being objective? lol

"Sure, you can do lots of things for free... the fact of the matter is that you have all these hokey solutions, for the low price of free, and what you end up paying is free time."

Exactly. I can get out an old reel mower and mow my yard for free. Does that mean it is better than using a gas mower?

I must admit I'm very curious about this. I've been using Windows 2000 Server for years. Sure I could do everything it does for "free", but the time it would take me to figure out how to install all this "free" software and make it WORK is not free. After installing Red Hat 9 and pulling my hair out trying to figure out how to get Frontpage extensions running with Apache and deciphering the monster that is Sendmail, I went to a trade show, grabbed NT4 for $100 and a 2000 Server Upgrade for $500 ($600 total as opposed to the full version for $1000), and was up and running in a matter of hours.
There are more things in life than money, and to me my time has value. If people wish to spend their time learning new products to save themselves some cash, more power to them. Me? I'd rather shell out 200 bucks for some software that's pre-configured to do exactly what I want.

Hit the nail on the head... that is my point exactly.

sorry your IT skills are so weak.

Running apache is about the most trivial thing ever. I struggled getting IIS patched and working on Windows 2000 Server. Just so happened i installed Red Hat 9 and apache and was up in about 40 mins, including the install of the OS.

Running apache is about the most trivial thing ever.

You're an idiot.

Really.

I can't think of a better way to put it.

The fact that you can't see how incredibly stupid that comment is and how unbelievably blind you are to things like common sense and logic when Microsoft involved completely floors me. I never thought an otherwise sound and intelligent individual could be so emotionally involved, so defined, by their hatred of something to so completely lose touch with reality.

Example: To get WHS to allow online access to your files and media:

Plug in the WHS server.

Connect the network cable.

Turn it on.

Give it a name.

Insert Connector CD in one of your systems.

Install connector.

Open Connector.

Log in to Server.

Open media section.

Click remote access and one or two option settings depending on your preferences.

Done.

10 Steps. Care to tell me how to configure apache to do the same in under 10 steps?

Can't? People will pay to keep it at 10 steps. That is the point, that is why this product will work, that is what you absolutely, utterly, fail to comprehend.

That's why you are, in respect to *anything* Microsoft related, an idiot. You simply cannot accept fact when it conflicts with your preconceived delusions of "Everything Microsoft=Evil™".

God, your stupidity is both broad and stunning in its George Bush-like breath. You completely miss his point because you're too stupid to READ his post. Windows does NONE of this well, and since you're still using a computer like every troll does — like it's 2001 — you are truly the George Bush of troll-dom. Congratulations.

Windows does NONE of this well,

Wow. Is it possible to have this much clueless in one topic without the servers exploding?

Might help if you actually read the article so you actually know what we're talking about before posting in the future.

/silly me
//He'll never be back to this topic
///another hit and run troll brought to us by Zaine.

I don't want to rain on your parade... Ok, maybe I do... I don't work for Microsoft, "dude"...

You want the verbal smackdown, Pitbabystealer? Let's do it...

*interlaces fingers, cracks knuckles with palms facing out, and begins typing*

First, I have a feeling you have never used WHS. You probably hate it because you are too lame to get on the Beta lists and try the software out. Have you tried the software? If you have not, please, STFU and move along, troll. If you have, please, enlighten us as to what the flaws are.

Let's examine your arguments one by one: "what happens if your kid runs a magnet over the hard disk"

Please, shut your mouth before you make yourself sound MORE stupid than you already have.

Any knowledgeable person knows that it takes a very high powered magnetic field to erase a modern hard disk through a casing, much more than some hand magnet your "kid" would have.

Next, since WHS is based on W2K3 R2 with IIS6, it's fairly stable and pretty bulletproof out of the box because of a) firewall being turned on at the box itself and b) IIS is fairly hard to break into now if it's properly configured (which by default it is), and c) I *SERIOUSLY* doubt Microsoft would ship WHS with a configuration on the IIS side that would be vulnerable. That would be both stupid and unconscionable. Please, tell me how a WHS server would be vulnerable to hacking from the outside, or better yet, prove your "t3h l33t skillz" and get a job with a security company and blab it to the net with some credentials behind it.

Second, I bring up linux/samba because gee, your "I can do it free" argument means you're going to use a *nix distro to do whatever you think you are going to do. Oh, and yes, I've installed/managed several flavors of linux at various times in my career for many purposes, and used and even use both Clarkconnect Office for a router, Ubuntu on a box at home, smartass.

Third, gee, let's see, how about MY home, or my two cousins who have more than 10 boxes in their homes, and wait for it, wait for it... a LOT of people who work in the tech industry like myself.

Let's see, I have *counting....* 7 computers here at my desk not counting my WHS box... one HTPC client for my BTV Server in the living room, a laptop, and another in a front bedroom, and let's see one more HTPC BTV Client box in my roommate's bedroom, and oh let's not forget my roommate's laptop. But the beauty of it is one laptop and one computer is roomie's the rest are mine. Do the freakin math, Einstein, by my count that's 12 PCs active simultaneously in my home. Not to mention the other two sitting in the garage that I don't have room for in the house that I could be running... Wait, HOW MANY PEOPLE have more than 10 pc's in their home? At least ONE by my count.

Let's talk about your website stuff...

First of all, there's "no such thing as a free lunch" (I forget who coined that term). Can you tell me if your data will be safe on any of those "free" services? Will it be appropriated for use or indexed into some giant information net or made available to anyone without your permission?

Wouldn't it be nice to host your photos at home for your family with an easy url to get to (pitdingo.homeserver.com for example)that doesn't have a single AD or possiblity of infecting them with malware from some unscrupulous company?

FYI You don't need any new hardware for WHS either, it runs perfectly fine on a Pentium III with 512mb ram (gasp, no way! yes way Ted!)

A _hosted_ domain for as little as $3.95 a month isn't exactly "free" either...

Windows XP doesn't give you:

Centralized server OS for the home that provides the following features:

Consolidated shares with easy managment using the same usernames they log into their PC's with, without using an Active Directory/Domain Controller setup, Easy space expandability without the need for additional drive letters, file duplication without the need for an expensive raid configuration, remote access to your PCs at home through one website address, nightly computer backups in both incremental and full versions, with restore using a bootable CD, previous versions support at the server level for files, notification of PCs not having the proper antiviral or firewall support installed/enabled (like on your Kid's machines who surf myspace, etc...), expandability to provide media for the entire home via extenders or WMP11, easy website configurations using a plugin called "Whiist", a free FQDNS internet address with dynamic IP support.

Yeah, I'd say WinXP is far superior... NOT

Pitdingo:

Here's the answer to your question that you might understand:

What does it do that you cannot already do on your own for free?

It does it all for you, so you don't have to.

You don't have to know how to do it.

You don't have to take the time to do it.

You don't have to *do* anything.

While such a thing may not appeal to you, it *will* appeal to a great number of home users who would rather not get involved in it.

Hope that helps. It's just a plug N' go solution for those who don't want to deal with it. Sure, it's limited and most of the functionality can be had for free, but it involves effort, motivation, and the desire to actually *do* any of it.

You know as well as I that most folks would rather *not* do anything, even if it costs them $190 to not do it. ;)

More Info available on:

http://www.microsoft.com...homeserver/default.mspx

this is a great program for the AVERAGE HARY HOMEOWNER with little or some experience with computers. I think that Windows Home Server OS is a home run for Microsoft.

Yea it is bull S*** for tech heads and geeks but everyone with a home wants a server thats easy to use.

"Yea it is bull S*** for tech heads and geeks but everyone with a home wants a server thats easy to use."

lol. "everyone".

well excuse me - almost everyone

well almost everyone with a computer

"well almost everyone with a computer" and some media files... ;-)

I beta tested this OS too and found it way too restrictive. There's nothing you can do that a standard server with winxp can do.
For instance, the data execution prevention that comes with winserver2003 effectively prevented me from installing the driver for my printer.

It has some nice feature such as the Mediaplayer playlist sharing etc.
But if you don't use WMP, a simple server with winxp and some samba share should do the trick (plus it won't explode with popups if you reboot after a power failure).

Or force you into paying another M$ tax every couple of years to "upgrade".

People can already do all of this for _free_, very easily too.

People can already do all of this for _free_, very easily too.

Now it's El Dingo who just doesn't "get it".

I cannot believe you think it is "easy" for the average person to set up a domain, install a linux server with centralized backups, and set up media streaming. Most folks wouldn't even know where to begin.

I'd love to hear how your setup is easier than buying a $500 1TB WHS system and plugging it into the network.

It isn't. You're just incapable of admitting (solely because it's a Microsoft product)that for the average home user with more than one PC that this might actually work well for them.

If Red Hat had come out with a $180 distro that would do all of this, you'd be foaming at the mouth about how MS would never do anything that useful.

"I cannot believe you think it is "easy" for the average person to set up a domain, install a linux server with centralized backups, and set up media streaming."

Show me where i said this?

I am not debating if the product works. Again, you lack reading comprehension. I am asking what this does to justify a $190 cost of the OS when it offers little to nothing new.

That's the point, this has been around for quite some time but for users that have large amounts of files and want something easy to setup and work, this does it.

Why do people buy apple pcs just to surf the net? It costs twice as much (We are talking barebones, no frills, email, internet, listen to music pc)

Why do people pay twice the price for a mp3 player (ipod, zune) when there are other brands cheaper and offer more features.

Name recognition, support and ease of use is why.

If it offers nothing new to you and it is limited, its not geared towards you.

Show me where i said this?[/i]

OK

[i]People can already do all of this for _free_, very easily too.[/i]

Dolt. I lack reading comprehension? You are apparently incapable of reading your own posts.

[i]I am asking what this does to justify a $190 cost of the OS when it offers little to nothing new.

No, you're trolling. It's been explained. Ease of use for the average user. They don't want to muck around with setting up shares, web servers, and time consuming DVD backups.

The questions been answered, several times. You are either incapable of comprehending the answer, or, as I suspect, are yet again, just trolling the latest MS topic.

the closest type of software on the *nix side is freeNAS which makes it dirt easy to set up a NAS type box running SAMBA on top of FreeBSD. its built with the same framework as m0n0wall/pfSense.

home server will definitely appeal to more of the average joe users though. but overall, if you're smart enough to know theres free ways to have same features, yer already running a *nix box with all of the features and shouldnt be worried what aunt gertrude is using. home server is for the less tech savy and they did a perfect job of making it for them.

and shouldnt be worried what aunt gertrude is using

How on earth did you get out of setting up all of your relatives systems? Some people are *so* lucky...

I ditched FreeNAS in lieu of WHS simply because of all the inconsistencies with my 360 and my windows shares... I have 4 "users" in my house and trying to set permissions granular enough to keep my kids out of my work files was a nightmare... With WHS, it took me less than 10 minutes to set the correct permissions and to totally isolate their files from mine or my wife's files.

Yes, there are free solutions out there... for the longest time I had an Orb server running on my XP box and numerous file shares, external NAS devices etc... For once MSFT has made something easy for even the average home user and even for us tech users that just don't want to have to spend the 4 or 5 free hours home at night trying to maintain a spaghetti mess of applications.

"For instance, the data execution prevention that comes with winserver2003 effectively prevented me from installing the driver for my printer."

Now why on earth would you want to install a printerdriver on it? It's a server not a pc!

Your not surpose to connect any peripherals to it at all, just a network cable.

Am I missing something here?

Old news. Had it for sale here for over a month. :P

I was one of the beta testers for this and I really like it.

WHS is based on Windows Server 2003 so drivers shouldn't be a problem. It also has duplication so all your data is stored on two drives if you want. If your server runs out of space just plug in another drive and the available storage goes up. On the surface there is no drive letters they are all network shares. You can also set it up as a web server when you login you can download and upload files to your server. Also if your PC's are either Vista Ultimate or XP Pro you can use remote desktop from anywhere. It's also a media server so you can stream stuff to Media Center and the PS3. I also installed a program on it so it shows up in iTunes as well.

I think that it's worthy to have one of these in the house if you have more then 1 PC.

$190!??!!?!? ROFLMAO. What does this do for me that i can not already do for free?

Save you a bunch of time. It just all depends on how much you value your time.

i don't get it. I can back up my files to DVD which is better than backing them up to another hard disk. I can install a web server like apache in under a minute. I can share photos on a variety of sites and people can order prints.

What does this do that i can not already do for free?

I can back up my files to DVD which is better than backing them up to another hard disk.[/i]

The backups are redundant when there is more than one drive in the system, so how is a DVD better? DVDs have less space and can be easily scratched, rendering them useless.

[i]What does this do that i can not already do for free?

Nothing *you* couldn't likely do on your own with a much finer level of control.

...but then again, this product isn't targeted at you. This is for home users who do not share your level of technical know-how. :)

It allows them to have a central redundant backup location, a central file share, access to any of those files form an easy to remember address, central security management, and the ability to add functionality with WHS addons.

All of which, again, you can do for free because you have the know-how and the time. Most folks just want it to do what it does without the hassle, time investment, or knowledge requirements you and I take for granted.

"The backups are redundant when there is more than one drive in the system, so how is a DVD better? DVDs have less space and can be easily scratched, rendering them useless."

Hard drives fail. Why buy more hard drives _and_ a $190 OS when I can easily make DVD's on the DVD burner i already have without spending a dime on Windows Home OS or more hard drives?

And if I really wanted to...I can get a hosted domain for a $5 a month and have my own domain, and keep my home machines locked up behind my router/firewall and not have to do anything other than use it.

Some people have more than 4GB of data, moron. And you can't save an image of your HDD every single night to a DVD, like WHS does easily. Especially for up to 10 machines at once. :P

Again as he stated this isn't for "you."

Its for people who want an easy 1-2-3 solution and have little to no tech - know - how.

Its the same thing for what wii does, it has an arcade of games you can pay for to play on your wii box, OR the person with the know how and know where will download roms and play it on the pc for free with the same graphics and sound.

Its a manner of convience with little to no hassle.

"Some people have more than 4GB of data, moron"

Here come the M$ Drones. Insult what they do not understand. Use more than one DVD? very simple solution.

If you have ten machines which all have data on them with a need for nightly backups...it sounds like you are more than a "personal" user and have more robust requirements.

why not just share a drive one one machine. Windows has been able to do this for a long time.

How is installing Home Server and configuring all your machines, poking holes in your router, etc... easier than just sharing a drive through windows? or paying $5 a month for a hosting solution where someone else does everything for you?

Just because M$ has you brain washed into believing the only "easy" way to do something is via their software does not mean that is correct. Think for yourself.

Apparently, you completely missed this part:

...but then again, this product isn't targeted at you. This is for home users who do not share your level of technical know-how. :)

Well, either you missed it or are just looking for something else to b*tch about.

*You* can make all the DVDs you want. Most people don't want to take the time.

*You* can host a domain for $5 a month. Most people don't even know it's possible and wouldn't even know how to get it started.

*You* already have your own domain. Most people wouldn't even begin to consider having the idea to do something like that.

Point? This isn't for *you*. Go ahead and back your stuff up onto DVD. Run your domain, and use your free solution. That's wonderful.

You seem to be under the impression someone is trying to force this down your throat, when in fact it was *never* a product intended for your use.

lmao

Show me how sharing a drive backs up my computers, shares my files online, or manages my network connected PC's health?

Show me a domain host that for 5 dollars will do all of the above.

You are trying to make it sound like a rip-off, and for you, it may be.

Just because M$ has you brain washed into believing the only "easy" way to do something is via their software does not mean that is correct. Think for yourself.

What you consider easy is not what others consider easy. Do what you want to do and quit trying to think for everyone else.

and you can likewise stop saying "Pay M$ More Tax Server Edition" or whatever this thing is called, is "easy" as it may be easy for you but it is not easy for everyone.

1) You can backup to DVD already for free. that is my point. This $190 + cost of hard drives does nothing new. Somehow you do not get this

2) You can very easily enable sharing in Windows today. You can also install a web server very easily too. This $190 server is not needed to do this.

3)Windows auto-update will install all the patches automatically today. What does this $190 server do for you there?

Not everyone wants to have a plethra of dvds lying around either.

True, you can share a drive through windows, but as the server, it just sits there and again, the average consumer has no clue how to enable file sharing on a pc.

s***, the average consumer uses USB cables everyday and if you ask them to check if its plugged in, their heads explode.

I do help desk for our employees located in 13 states, our average calls for hardware include:

What's a power cable?

Do I plug the usb cable into the monitor or the hdd? (yes, they call the tower the hdd)

I am not technical, how am I supposed to know how to unplug the power cord?

My computer does not work (did you check to see if it was turned on? Oh)

I can't turn my pc off, I don't know how.

So this product will sell well to these people. I am sure there is even more of these type of people elsewhere.

Also, keep in mind every one of these employees we assist all have computers they use at home.

1) You can backup to DVD already for free. that is my point. This $190 + cost of hard drives does nothing new. Somehow you do not get this[/i]

Who wants to do that? Really. It's you who doesn't get this.

[i]2) You can very easily enable sharing in Windows today. You can also install a web server very easily too. This $190 server is not needed to do this.[/i]

Again, you don't get it. *YOU* can. This is for people who either don't have the time, knowledge, or motivation.

[i]3)Windows auto-update will install all the patches automatically today. What does this $190 server do for you there?

Off the top of my head? Dad sets up the systems and the auto-updates. Kid disables it. Dad sees this on the network health pop-up and can fix it.

You really cannot comprehend that not everyone (the majority, actually) doesn't want to muck around with creating shares, backing up with DVDs or installing web-servers, can you?

So you can back up your hard drive to DVD automatically every night without you doing everything. I doubt it.

"You can backup to DVD already for free. that is my point. This $190 + cost of hard drives does nothing new. Somehow you do not get this"

Just what the typical family doesn't want do... have to remember every night to put 1 or more DVDs into the burner... What about if you have around 20 gigs of media files that you want backed up? even with 2:1 compression, that's 10gb, hence 2 DVDs... Someone in the family is going to remember to do that every night? I can barely get my family to remember to feed the dogs much less remember to switch the DVD for the backups.

"You can very easily enable sharing in Windows today. You can also install a web server very easily too. This $190 server is not needed to do this."

Again, who in the typical family is going to do this? Most people buy a wireless router and never, ever hit the configuration for it. So, now you expect them to setup a web server, forward the port through their router and let's not forget running the DNS servers or signing up with a DNS proxy for their hosted domain? Give me a break... I don't know what planet you live on, but knowing my own family, they would be lost simply mentioning DNS to them.

"Windows auto-update will install all the patches automatically today. What does this $190 server do for you there?"

Yes, you have one point there... but, what WindowsUpdate does NOT do for you is monitor your PC health. Sure, you get the latest patches from MSFT, but that is it. Nothing more, nothing less.

Bottom live is that you are trying to equate a $190 OS to people like us who do know what the hell we are doing. Why would one of us buy this OS? Either to build a system to sell to others, or, in my case, so that I can spend the 4~5 hours I have at home daily doing something besides worrying about my backups or fielding questions like "Dad, where is my Britney Spears album?".

So go ahead and keep complaining, you are sounding more and more like a person that just wants to do nothing but complain.

the typical family has no need to backup every night. Most companies do not even run backups every night.

You still have to configure your firewall for the Windows server. Nice that you conveniently left that out. And you still have to deal with DNS as most every ISP will change your IP from time to time. You left that out too.

Keep talking nonsense...your name says it all. You are a M$ drone who thinks everything is impossible or too hard without the mothership. Perhaps you should give things a try before bashing them.

Who wants to spend $190 plus another few hundred on things they do not need. You don't get this.

Sharing folders in Windows is a horrific task...right click on the folder and click "Sharing" from the context menu. WOW. that was so difficult...i needed college for that.

Kids cant disable auto update if they do not have admin rights. :)

Nice try PC_Troll. Your trolls are getting better by the minute. Admit i have a point.

If you could follow a train of thought past it's first step, it would be a miracle.

Now set up shortcuts to that share on each of 10 computers. Backup that share in realtime. Make sure it's redundant.

...and that's only *one* of the features.

Kids cant disable auto update if they do not have admin rights.[/i]

And again you utterly fail to comprehend that the average person isn't going to know how to set up a LUA for their kids. Not to mention the fact that they don't need to. WHS will take care of it for them.

El Dingo falls short of basic comprehension yet again with another massacre of logic.

[i]Admit i have a point.

I'm sure you do. I highly doubt, however, that's it's of any consequence. Hence your apparent need to make a complete a** out of yourself every time an MS topic hits the site.

Actually, the typical family SHOULD be backing up nightly. The fact that people are lazy does not excuse that. Also, I'm sorry but most corporatations DO backup nightly. Hence why the enterprise backup market is a multi-billion dollar marketspace.

"You still have to configure your firewall for the Windows server. Nice that you conveniently left that out. And you still have to deal with DNS as most every ISP will change your IP from time to time. You left that out too."

Boy, when you are wrong, you are wrong...
(http://www.microsoft.com...dowshomeserver/faq.mspx)
You can access Windows Home Server and your home PCs through a personalized Windows Live Internet address that you choose. That means with a simple log in to your family Web site, you can access your photos, music files, and videos from anywhere. Windows Home Server not only enables you to upload and download files stored on your home server but also allows you to connect remotely and use your home computers as if you were sitting in front of them.

Gee, I didn't see anything in there about the home user having to deal with DNS or their firewall. Given that most home routers support UPnP Port Forwarding out of the box, AND WHS supports UPnP Port Forwarding... well, I'll allow you to connect the dots.

"Keep talking nonsense...your name says it all. You are a M$ drone who thinks everything is impossible or too hard without the mothership. Perhaps you should give things a try before bashing them."

I'm actually not a M$ drone at all. I personally cannot stand MSFT and abhor most of their products... But, I know where the money is in the market, hence my career path... as for me trying things... you have no idea.. I have been through most of the open source/freeware apps (I can give you the extensive list if you'd like) in this sector and can tell you from first hand experience that none of them can do everything that WHS does.

(BTW, why not read the FAQ on WHS?)

"Most companies do not even run backups every night." That is a good one.

I don't know of any company that have worked with or for that do not run back ups. That is about as stupid a comment that I have heard in a while.

He doesn't listen to reason, as long as it says MS on it you can bet he will slander the product all over the place.

You can show him facts over and over, but so as long as its MS, it won't matter.

And you still have to deal with DNS as most every ISP will change your IP from time to time. You left that out too.[/i]

No, you don't. WHS updates the IP information regularly. Again you prove you've no idea what your talking about because you've never used it.

[i]You still have to configure your firewall for the Windows server. Nice that you conveniently left that out.[/i]

Another lame-ass remark. Most routers are UPNP enabled, and WHS will auto-configure. In the case that it does not, the documentation and set-up instructions walk you through it.

[i]the typical family has no need to backup every night. Most companies do not even run backups every night.[/i]

BS and BS. Every company I have ever consulted for does daily backups. Home users store insane amounts of personal files (movies, pictures, addressbooks, you name it) and would be crushed if they lost them.

[i]Perhaps you should give things a try before bashing them.

Heed thine own advice, troll. You *might* actually have a clue then.

I actually do agree with PC_Tool on this one. this Home server solution is for the laymen.. Not the hard core people... and that is a good thing. I know my sister has no idea how my file server works or why it works, it just does, and good god she uses it for all my content... lol but yea, having a nice server box software package for the laymen to use and easily setup is a good thing...

Keep W2k3 adv server for the professionals that do a lot of remote desktop and virtualization, and Web services...

BTW UltraVNC works great on this Home server with User level access controls if you want a better remote desktop compatibility... ;)