MS Windows Home Server

illustrate the people behind the dBpoweramp software are making the transition from a software only company to one which offers software & hardware. Their first new product is RipNAS: dBpoweramp Ripper + NAS + Windows Home Server

When tasked with building a ripping appliance, high design goals were set, resulting in:

dBpoweramp CD Ripper: securest of the secure
Case: winner of Intel’s SFF design contest
PerfectMeta™: using 4 metadata providers: AMG, GD3, MusicBrainz and freedb simultaneously
Laptop 2.5″ hard drive(s): 3.5″ drives are too noisy for the living room!
Windows Home Server
Streamable to uPnP, DAAP (iTunes) and SqueezeCenter (Slim Devices)

What it Does

CDs are loaded one at a time into the slot loading CD drive, RipNAS retrieves the highest quality metadata through PerfectMeta (being headless means no user overview of metadata, PerfectMeta was designed for hands off Metadata retrieval), and ripping takes place to a lossless format. When completed the CD is ejected and audio is shared over the network, ready to be shared and streamed to one of the many network audio players (Sonos, Slim Devices, etc). Quality is assured through the use of AccurateRip.

If ripping in secure mode, any in-secure tracks are separated out to highlight them as having errors.

And of course having Windows Home Server onboard, RipNAS can backup and be used as a data store.

Audio Formats Supported
It is clear the audio world is split into different camps, depending upon which devices are being used on the Network, these 4 main modes are configured with ‘command CDs’, allowing configuration changes with out the need to connect a computer to the RipNAS:

• FLAC: main choice and supported by most network audio players,
• Apple Lossless: first choice for any Apple based player,
• Windows Media Audio Lossless: Microsoft based players (XBox 360)
• mp3: devices with no lossless audio support

The RipNAS is due to be available from early august as two models:

• RipNAS Secure: features as above, in 320GB, 640GB and 1TB models. Optionally the 640GB and 1TB models will offer RAID 1 mirroring across 2 drives (actual storage space available will be 320GB and 500GB). Pricing is expected to start from $999++
• RipNAS Value: the value series will use a different case, be active cooled and traditional 3.5″ drives in 500GB and 1TB models. Ripping will not include a secure mode. Pricing++ will be competitive with the HP Media Smart in consideration of the addition of Ripping abilities

More information is available in the following forums at illustrate.

For a list of reviews on the Fujitsu Siemens Scaleo Home Server 1900 head over to TestSeek who are showing four reviews from the likes of PC Pro, VNU and Trusted reviews.

The T7-HSAi and T2-WHS-A3i are the two new models in Tranquil PC’s Home Server lineup. Both are powered by the multi-thread, low energy 45nM 1.6GHz ATOM 230 CPU from Intel.

Both models have the same ‘fan less’ design features of the previous units, providing near silent operation and enhanced reliability, with power consumption from only 29W.

The T7-HSAi also supports 2x internal HDDs (2.5”), providing data duplication on the 250GB and 320GB models

Both are available for pre order with the T2-WHS-A3i starting at £278 + VAT shipping from the first week of June and the T7-HSAi starting at £299 shipping the following week.

A comparison between both units is available from here as well as ordering details on the T7-HSAi and the T2-WHS-A3i.

UK based Computer Active has reviewed the Fujitsu Siemens Scaleo 1900 home server and have given it 4 out of 5. Although they call it bulky and quite ugly, they conclude that it is a well-balanced home server with great performance and features.

Read the review here.

Mini ITX motherboards are the ones that come with low energy CPU’s onboard from the likes the VIA. Intel joined the band wagon last year with the D201 mainboard comprising the SIS chipset, which came complete with a 1.2Ghz Celeron CPU. This year Intel introduced the Atom CPU with its HT technology, ultra low energy and state of the art performance.

As why this info? Well, Tranquil PC will be shipping an Atom powered mainboard known as the Intel D945GCLF. This Mini ITX board comes complete with a 1.6GHz Atom 230 CPU, with 512K of L2 cache, based on Intel’s latest low power (TDP = 4W) 45nM process.

The onboard chipset is the Intel 945GC + ICH7 and Intel high definition audio, 10/100 LAN, PCI, SATA2 (3GB/s) DDR2 533/667 are all included as well.

So for your next Windows Home Server build project or upgrade check the Intel D945GCLF mainboard, and get a huge performance boost (typically 3-4x benchmark improvement, when compared to a VIA C7 1.5GHz / CN700 system).

Available from the end of May/first week of June for £42.00 (EU 52, $82) from the following location.

Retailer and system builder PCAlchemy who produce products for the digital home have just announced the Avideus HSE Home Server, their first product designed for Windows Home Server based on the Intel SS4200-EHW Server design.

 
While other companies may be building Windows Home Server products based on the Intel SS4200-EHW design, Avideus believes the HSE Home Server has a significant benefit over its competition.  Not only is the HSE competitively priced and backed by an industry leading 3 year limited warranty, HSE owners will receive the best support available from a staff of technicians that understand your digital home and are Avideus HSE Home Server users themselves.

The Avideus HSE Home Server’s storage is expandable via three internal hard-drive bays, four USB 2.0 ports and two eSATA ports and until May 15th 2008 the 1TB (2 x 500GB) storage version valued at $100 is FREE via PCAlchemy.com

More info is available at http://www.pcalchemy.com/hse.html.

It’s nice to see Belinea’s new white and orange Windows Home Server called the Belinea’s O.center is now available to order. Using a AMD Sempron LE-1100 processor running at 1.6GHz, with 512MB DDR2 Ram and a 500GB hard drive all for €499.

More info in German and English.

Blogger Hamish has been using Linux with his Tranquil T7-HSA Server (naughty boy!). His mini review can be found here.

Back in October (2007) of last year we gave you details of the DS-520 Home Server NAS Appliance from Norco Technologies which is available as two separate models the DS-520F provides Dual 10/100 Ethernet and a 600MHz Processor whilst the DS-520G has Dual Gigabit Ethernet and a 1GHz Processor and in both instances the processor is an Intel ULV Celeron M.

For those of you after more information tech site ExtremeTech has posted a 4 page review for your eager eyes here.

PC Pro magazine reviews the Tranquil PC T2-WHS-A3 Harmony Home Server which gets an impressive 5 out of 6 stars and it receives a “PC Pro Recommended” award as well.

Read the full review here.