Windows Home Server

Yesterday Microsoft released their newest project to manufacturers, Windows Home Server. This new consumer based software will be for home users to store, stream, and backup and organize digital files from multiple pcs to a central server. The main thing Microsoft is touting is that Windows Home Server will be easy to implement for novice computer users with simple interfaces and one-click features. Some of the key features of WHS will be centralized backup using Single Store technology to eliminate duplicate files, file sharing of things like mp3’s and videos with network attached storage devices, remote administration, headless operation (no keyboard or monitor attached to device), and data redundancy. Another thing that will hurt initial sales of this new OS is that you cannot buy a copy of it and install it on a pc you already have, you will have to buy a new Pc designed for it. Sharing photos and other digital content with family and friends will be made easy with this, but really how hard is it to get a free flickr account for that? I am normally the first person who tries out new personal technology but with this new software I am already doing most of what it offers with my Netgear Eva8000 for streaming media, My Kodak easyshare software for sharing photos with family and friends and backing up with my external hard drive with one click backup software. Given my current experiences with Vista (along with many other peoples) I would have to say wait awhile for the bugs to be worked out on this one.

Technorati Tags: Windows, Digital, Server, Media