The Year in Review 2008 – Part 2
We are more than half way through the year already and August see’s Power Pack 1 (PP1) available in German, French and Spanish. By the end of the month Windows Home Server officially launches in Japan with a Japanese version too.
In September we are asked what we would think if there was 2 versions of WHS, a “basic” household version and a “advanced” household version and what would be the user limit for each version.
Also this month a job posting for a WHS Software Development Engineer gives insight that the next version of Windows Home Server, codenamed “Vail” will include Media Center integration.
October see’s even more MVP’s join the clan. Donavon West of Home Server Hacks, newcomer Sam Wood and Alex “Yakuza” from MediaSmartServer.com.
By the end of October it is announced at PDC2008 that Live Mesh would be available within the Windows Home Server product at some time in the future (and here). Also during PDC2008 it is announced that WHS would soon be available on MSDN.
The 1st of November saw Microsoft announce a 30% price reduction on the Windows Home Server software, bringing the price down to approximately $120 in the US and £80 in the UK. Some users experience issues when upgrading the video drivers on their integrated graphics or video card that has a Nvidia chip on it . Windows Home Server is further enhanced this month too, when Microsoft releases an update which fixes six issues with the product. And finally Microsoft’s diagnostic and troubleshooting tool, the Windows Home Server Toolkit has an update.
December see’s a leak that the model names for “Encore”, (HP’s codename for the next MediaSmart Server range) could be called the EX485 and EX487 and more news comes to light that the Windows Home Server software will be available shortly to MSDN and TechNet subscribers.
Finally the end of the month, and year the end of the year and HP announce that the next generation of MediaSmart Server’s will include Mac backup, online backup and smart power management amongst many additional features.
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Hopefully we’ll get some news regarding PP2 at CES.
The Media Center integration would be a very smart move in my opinion. With laptops outselling desktops, we need an alternate 24×7 platform. WHS fits the bill better than a desktop PC if you ask me. And should reduce the certification costs with CableLabs, etc. since there is likely to be only one WHS core hardware platform each manufacturer would need to support. The advanced “premium” WHS, would just have a better processor, memory and storage capability.
Btw, my last comment on Media Center integration assumes that won’t be available until v2 WHS (2010 likely). I don’t want anyone to get their hopes up that this is included in PP2. For PP2, I’d love to see Live Mesh integrated for starters.