MS Windows Home Server

Controversial writer David Berlind from the ZDNet Berlind’s Testbed blog has posted a follow up to the article he wrote in September (2007), Will Windows Home Server be Microsoft’s next flop? He writes that since the article was published that he has received emails saying he was out of line for saying what he did.
Berlin responded that he was an idiot for unnecessarily making his original argument more complicated than it needed to be and that he regretted pointing out that Windows Home Server was complicated. Read more from the source and don’t forget to read the comments.

UPDATE: Thanks to the Tablet PC User, who lead me to the article by Shawn Morton, with a follow up to this story at TechRepublic.

With Windows Home Server only being available as an OEM product, you will not get the two free support requests that come with most of Microsoft’s retail boxed products. So what can you do if you have a problem and are really stuck? Well, you can call on the help of the WHS community. Two places to start are ours and Microsoft’s WHS forums (using search first, in case your question has already been answered). If this doesn’t help, you can always search our site (located in the right hand pane) or use our advanced search feature. Finally you could go to the big guys – at a price.

Microsoft will charge you $79** (£46)** but only if you have one of the following:

• Software Assurance Agreement*
• Professional Contract*
• TechNet Subscription
• MSDN Subscription
• MSPP (Microsoft Partner Program)

* These two in the UK only.

** To get the rate for your country click on the page that opens and change the country setting from the top left of the page, this will store a cookie on your machine then re-click on the link above “$79″.

It seems that without one of these, you cannot pay Microsoft for support, although the Microsoft Partner Program is free to join.

Microsoft have put more information on how to use Windows Home Server on their site. Entitled The Microsoft Home Server House, it can be got to from their WHS page below the “It’s all coming together” picture by clicking on “Experience a Connected Home” (will open in a separate window) or by going directly to the following URL: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/demo/index.html. All four rooms can be clicked on to see how Home Server connects to other appliances in the home.

A Video Stories link also takes you to four separate video accounts. The first one is by Steven VanRoekel from Microsoft who gives an introduction to Windows Home Server. Next is Cindy and Jim Combs with info on the remote access features, and this is followed with an account of how automatic backup works in Home Server by Heather and Doug Jacobson. Finally Pete Peterson’s family discuss how they share their pictures and music with the aid of an Xbox.