So check it. I’m at the Waggener-Edstrom blogger lounge at the Venetian and they’ve got the highly-anticipated Microsoft Windows Home Server. This cylindrical, glowing piece of machinery is basically an easy to use, plug ‘n play server for the family. You can share all your movies, pictures, music, files, etc. with up to 10 users wirelessly and can access your files anywhere in the world via a free personalized domain.
A rep tells us that the device has internal drives, but the storage capacity differs. Microsoft is actually using these as OEM devices and customizing them to different manufacturers needs. HP is releasing their version in Q2 this year with a storage capacity between 500GB and 1TB. There’s also four USB ports and three extra drive bays in case you pirate you run out of storage. Price? Rumors are that it’ll be in the $500-ish zone.
(pictured is Microsoft’s working version - the design isn’t confirmed)
Looks like Microsoft finally got Mac mini envy :-)
Has Microsoft said if Windows Home Server is just XP based? I would be cool if it worked for Macs and Xbox 360s.
Is this a storage device or firmware system? If it’s strictly storage wouldn’t the network interfaces drive the interoperability for it more than the O/S?
And if not, could MSFT really launch their new media capabilities on XP instead of Vista??
Guess I’m going to have to start reading the announcements a lot closer.
Oh man, that looks so cool. That’s a tech savvy person’s one weakness, glowy things… I could stack that ontop of my blue glowy light thingy… hahaha!
Looks like Microsoft is taking some cues from Apple when it comes to designing. I like the edgy (no pun intended) circular design, and the very simple but sleek looking front and logo make it look like something I wouldn’t mind showing off.
Looks slick. 500 sounds pricey for a mini PC server with wifi capabilities, but I guess you’re paying for the package, not the specs…
While I do share previous sentiments about the cool design of this cake-shaped server, I’ve been trying to see what the anticipated use case for this device is. Usually a server is some box which sits somewhere where nobody stumbles over it, and you usally never touch it (assuming it’s running stable). Now this thing looks like Microsoft wants you to put it right on your coffee table in your living room (next to the coffee table book about coffee tables for you Seinfeld geeks), and I have to say, unless you really want to flaunt it (which with cables going in and out, power supply, extra drives etc., might not really be a living room scenario, it does not have very efficient shape to be stacked with anything else. In short terms: As beautiful as it seems, does the design overrule the device’s intended purpose?
So it’s basically a NAS device with wifi? I don’t see what the big deal is.
Of interest to me is the design. IMO, Apple has upped the bar for design, look-n-feel, presentation, etc. The eye candy factor abounds.
Microsoft has been watching the game films for a long time now. Apple wins games because their products are irresistable first, they are so simple to use (that my 62 year old dad and my 9 year old daughter can both figure out) second, and they just freakin’ work. Yes, you lay down some premium cabbage for Apple products (though that scale has slowly been tipping the other way for what you get) but at the end of the day you are happy to have a slick piece of ITWORKS.
I saw the Zune while out Christmas shopping. It has Apple’s influence all over it. It actually looks nice. And if there were no such thing as an iPod, I’d probably be tempted. Then again, if there were no such thing as an iPod, there would be no such thing as a Zune, guaranteed.
$500 for a 500GB-1TB NAS with a network interface and USB is about par with other devices I have seen. The attention to design gives this an edge over other devices. However, a NAS is meant to be invisible and transparent to the user.
Uhm - yeah, so the comparisons being made here….
When is someone going to come up with a nice looking insinkerator (garbage disposal to some), cuz like ya know, it might be nice to sit on the kitchen floor and stare at it sometime.
Sheesh, it’s a harddrive - who cares what it looks like? Why even begin to compare it to Apple stuff?
If we were talking about cars here, then maybe I’d see how the discussion could lean this way, but come on!
Cool design or not for the rest of it, the glow is a terrible idea IMO because the last thing I need is another light source always on in my home.
I don’t like the idea of glowing things hidden in my closet. Actually, I don’t think I like glowy things after the first five minutes. Good example: my stereo system. It’s damn annoying to put the TV sound through it or DVD sound b/c when I have the lights out, I feel like I’m swimming in a cool blue LED ocean.
Check out the new post with the HP one and an Inventec concept for some non-glowage (except when it’s on)
http://crunchgear.com/2007/01/08/more-windows-home-server-design-concepts/
Sheesh, it’s a harddrive - who cares what it looks like?
1. It’s a consumer device that will probably stand a chance of making it into any room in the house rather than being shoved at the back of a desk somewhere. Of you can’t see that, you’re living with your head somewhere that doesn’t shine.
2. Try saying that to anyone who bought the porsche designed La Cie external hard drives, and they’ll look at you as if you don’t actually exist, but maybe some annoying buzzing sound just passed by their ear.
3. It’s not “just” a hard drive, it’s a home digital connection hub consumer device - kinda like what that apple guy’s been banging on about for the past 5-6 years. If this does half of what they’re saying it does, and does it well and just works, and no-one else brings one out in the 120 -150 days until it’s likely to be released, then this is going to be one heck of a popular thingy.
Just a hard drive…sheesh, you’d think people could see beyond their own noses occasionally.
My concern is the part about “access your files anywhere in the world via a free personalized domain”. Is this thing designed to live on the public internet and still be accessible to clients on the private network?
Given the current size of the various Windows-powered botnets, I shudder at the thought of a Windows-based system designed to be publicly accessible and marketed to non-technical users. This simply won’t work for anyone using a router or firewall at home unless it also comes with easy instructions on setting up port-forwarding, which open another can of worms (pun not intended, but appropriate nonetheless).
I’m with Ryan on this one. I’ll stick will my cheap, boxy, dark, low electricity usage nas…
looks nice. However i don’t need one, so I could care less.
I think somebody mentioned a Roomba-looking media server or two coming through?
Blahh. Not that great, though okay. It would be really great if it allowed expandability with multiple units intelligently communicating - similar to iSCSI or SoIP, but simpler.
Here’s a great video of what it actually does:
http://on10.net/Blogs/jesse/windows-home-server-will-live-in-your-closet-simplify-your-life/
Chris,
I care what it looks like. When companies give attention to the details, even the form factor and the polish, it speaks volumes about the attention they give to the guts. Besides the fact that if you’re going to have a gadget haven it would at least be cool if it was nice to look at, too.
Lp, No it doesn’t - it means that all they had was a hard drive with network access, so they had to make it look flashy and cool and sleek in order to cover up the fact that it’s only a hard drive.
Speaks volumes….pffft you are an idiot.
I’m glad Microsoft is finally concerned about appearance, but they’re throwing away practicality in the process. This sexily-shaped appliance may lead to more impulse purchases, but customer remorse will likely follow when the realization hits that it doesn’t “fit” anywhere. Even hidden in the closet, that wide, flat, glassy surface is just begging to have a bowling ball dropped on it.
Other than its shape, I really like this product. I’m hoping its flexible or extendable enough to add DVR and print server capabilities.
I think they got it with this one…this is the first of a big idea they seem to have
Can I store my DVD collection on it? 3,000+ DVD’s?… anyone? If so, I want one, If not,… Thats an impressive/annoying Glowing box…
Look. People. Please get over all these Mac / PC comparisons. The differences are small and dwindling. And right, who really cares what the thing looks like after you’re done plugging it in?
What you need to notice here is that you can get at your files from anywhere, for free. Anybody who knows a twit about setting up servers can do this already, but what this does is allow the General Public to host a globally accessible media server. We’ll see if the software really works in this configuration, but this actually is something new.
Where’s the reset button? And the reset the reset button? And the button for updating the bugs? And the button for updating the bugs update? And son on?
I really hope it doesn’t actually glow like that…
Windows Home Server is based on Windows Server 2003. It will work very well with the Xbox 360. Not sure about other OSs.
@alex grogan
You had an opinion, LP had an opinion. Everything is hypothetical considering neither of you have laid hands on the hardware to use it.
that being said, i posted here just to address your idiot opinion comment.
firstly, wipe the doritos off of your man boobs and pay attention.
its not ok to throw insults like that around with absolutely no basis. you don’t know that guy, what hes about, or what hes been thru. hes someone that has an opinion different than yours. thats what makes america great. we dont need communists like you throwing insults when they cant debate. its bad for free speech, its bad for america, and its bad for the world.
I would like to take a moment to invite everyone that reads this blog, to let alex know what we all think, and how sick we all are of the stereotypical lame, false internet toughguy speeches we’ve all been reading for years. We’re tired of it, as much as we are tired of lame cliche’s like “wheres the beef?” and “yeah buddy”.
my comment about windows home server? i think it looks interesting, can’t wait to see how it pans out when it ships. thats it, thats my comment.
Im a mac guy. Thats pretty nice for Microsoft stuff. I am sure that it is more than just a hard drive with WIFI and a few usb ports. There has to be more to it if they expect average pc users to fork out their hard earned money for something that just sits on a desk and looks purty.
MTB
Wonder if you could connect a USB printer to it.
The all important question: does it run Linux?
if it runs something based on server 2003 it should.
Imagine a beowulf cluster of these.. it would be a big round tower!
I’d still rather buy $100 xbox, modify it (with a software based mod-chip), and then just stream everything over my network to my home theater. I don’t care if it doesn’t look pretty, but it works great and can play any codec I throw at it. I won’t buy something similar unless it’s about 100 bucks and make less noise than my xbox. =)
the lights sure would get annoying pretty quick in my opinion as well. my stereo lights up my room enough as it is; one DIM green LED indicating it’s powered on would suffice. sheesh.
I wonder how big of a beer mug I could fit on this for double use as a coaster *thinks*
I love seeing everyone who has an opinion based on simple picture. Aint the Internet grand! Thanks AL!!!
But seriously, A little research yielded this:
1. Yes its a NAS. And its totally wireless(other than a power cord).
2. Its also a centralized place to seemlessly store all your media ALA media player 11 and Vista. Xbox intergration is also there. SO expect windows media support. DON’t expect Dixv or any other kind of codec support.
3. It serves as a centralized , automatic backup system that can (and this seems cool) restore a crashed system with a simple boot disk. The articles I read were not clear if was a boot cd or a boot floppy. I am going to assume cd.
4. Based on 2003. Cut down for performance. Has several features from 2003 like shadow copy. Don’t know what shadow copy is? Then you are missing out.
5. USer account sync. Ok its not a real directory serivice. But it is. Wait , ok I admit it I am confused. I understand the udea of syncing the user accounts and passwords across all trhe PCs in the house. But what about user profiles? I will guess they will adapt the idea of folder redirection for the users personal folders. The idea of roaming profiles would just not work in a home user world were some user will have gigs of things and stuff.
6. Headless. Web browser based management. nuff said.
7. External VPN access to your stuff via a free domain name. Or just go via IP.With a host of robust filtering and access rules.
8. Seemless storage expansion. No seperate volumes to manage, no c: drive, just one big volume extension.
Thats enough for me to be interested I can assume that there will be even more features added in like QOS and content ratings (aimed at the family usage don’t ya know)and a whole host of Vista type enhancements/tie ins.
To be honest, I think it’s rather ugly. It looks like a cookie jar, and is apparently made out of cheap plastic. I suppose you can swith of the leds.
I love however that finally some competition is going on.
I agree with Bas, I’m not sure I’m a fan of the round one, but it looks smaller than other pics of the HP one I had seen which is good.
Someone commented that without the ipod there’d be no zune, guaranteed..
i’d like to point out that without the walkman, there’d be no ipod.
fanboys, i love ‘em.
Wow. It’s a hard drive with a basic OS and SMB. For $200, you can build the same thing using any Linux distro in less than an hour. Of course, it won’t be shaped like a cake and have a glowing green light.
I found a good review on this. Go here.
http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/whs_preview.asp
You can access it on OS X through smb shares and it works as a backup location for time machine.
Depending on the hardware vendor the device will take different shapes, or you can build your own if you buy the software. Hard drives can be added on the fly to expand storage space.
Being somewhat of a Tech, I am in school to become an MCSE, and let me tell you that although Microsuck’s plug n play server is looking fairly shiny and glows of great colors, I find it useless. First there has to be user interaction, there is no way you can plug a server in and there it goes, It is doing its job lol, wtf. For the ease of use, and Im guessing its for people who have no idea what a server is, I can almost guarantee it will flop. Last but surely not least, what does it do, it allows you to share your videos, files, pictures and pron. Wait If I do recall doesn’t Windows XP do that by default. Wow it allows 10 people to access this server. Wait the limit in XP by default to access a server is ohhhh 10 lol. This is yet another attempt at Microsuck, to suck some extra money from selling the same product just more pretty. I do not advise anybody with some cerebral matter to buy this, Stick some LED’s on a your PC and read a bit about what Microsoft has actually added to its new OS’s and products, or which added features have been added which Microsoft has bought from smaller, better companies. Thats all.
I think it has potential, although I don’t really see much of an advantage over simply building your own box for this. If you’re going to go with a windows based solution, you probably would be better off with buying Win2k3 SBS… A small vista PC should be able to handle most of what this “server” provides — file sharing, a backup utility and shadow copies. Unless the server ships with active directory it’s hard to stay interested.
It’s a NAS! Who cares what it looks like! Who cares what OS it runs! Maybe I’m missing the point here, but If I were to already have a TB in my home PC, Why would I need this just to store and share my stuff.
And if it’s wireless and directly connected to my broadband, that’s one more thing that I have to worry about keeping bug (and virus) free. Or are there people out there that don’t have a computer and just want to store their MP3’s?
Just my 2 cents. I like to see total solutions…..not gizmo’s
It’s not just a NAS. It’s a NAS, automated backup, wireless access point, VPN server, etc. Only mjr Paranoid has read the article. Also, those of you who commented on its appearance did not notice the line that said this is only a MS prototype. MS will not make these. OEM’s will.
You folks ought to try and learn something about the product before you bash it. The unit in the pic is a prototype as stated in a previous post, Microsoft isn’t packaging it, OEM’s will. Who cares what it looks like, what does it do….
http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=270965
Windows Home Server will be able to do a lot of things (as sated aboave), one of which is allow someone like myself to develop home automation software, which is actually pretty cool if you ask me. But hey, WHS isn’t meant for your typical “iPod” user, it’s meant for those of us who wish to use our brain every once in awhile.
Obvioulsy no offense to those of us who have an iPod and tinker on the side.
“Free Personalized Domain”.
all in all, i want this sucka.
As HTPCdrmr above says, did anyone actually bother to learn the details of the product before bashing it?
If you watch the video at Channel 9 you’ll learn something. You’ll learn that it’s aimed at both sides of the market: a) the non-geek home user who wants to plug it in and (almost) forget about it and b) the geek (you lot) who want to “tinker” with it.
It’s not “just a NAS” either. Go watch the video and learn what it is.
I believe the idea with the lights on the MS unit is that they glow green when everything’s good, yellow for a problem, and red when it’s down.
And it’s more than a NAS. It’s a trimmed down version of Windows Server 2003.
Why use windows to serve files? Why?
I have an old 1200 Mhz with linux and it has done the job well for over 6 years now and rebooted a couple of times.
Windows is known to spread virus, trojans and has to reboot every night.
Why use it? because it look cool??
You all, and I mean you all, need to be lined up and individually slapped. OK.. wait a minute, not Jeff, but the rest of you sniveling punks line up.
Punishment dished out as follows:
1. One slap - Not understanding that the green light industrial design is only one take on what it might look like, and sniveling about it
2. One slap - Not bothering to figure out what it is, and sniveling about it.
3. One slap - Bad mouthing it because you are a Apple sniveling punk.
4. One slap - Praising it because you are a MS sniveling punk.
5. Two bitch slaps, and an intervention - for being hopelessly lost in Linux land and sniveling about it.