As part of his keynote address on Sunday at the annual Consumer Electronics Show, Gates showed off Windows Home Server (more info at Ars) - a consumer device to serve as a central storage place for digital photos, music and other media. The first products are due out later this year from HP and others. The goal is to get devices that can cost less than USD 500. In the first of a two-part interview, Microsoft's chairman talks about why the average person wants a server, why they won't need a degree in computer science to run it and what hurdles remain before consumers reach the true digital home.
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Member since:2005-07-02
Functionality is only part of the solution. If they can't match usability and provide a packaged product that's easy to setup, and that people actually know is available, WHS still wins.
Why wouldn't they be able to match usability and provide an easy setup? It's not rocket science.
I know you're a die-hard MS supporter, but that doesn't change the fact that MS has a hard time penetrating new markets, and if there's any interest in this kind of device, it's only a matter of time before competitors jump in.
Member since:2005-07-06
Why wouldn't they be able to match usability and provide an easy setup? It's not rocket science.
I know you're a die-hard MS supporter, but that doesn't change the fact that MS has a hard time penetrating new markets, and if there's any interest in this kind of device, it's only a matter of time before competitors jump in.
It may not be rocket science, but it doesn't always happen. Look at MCE vs similar solutions. How many competing solutions are marketed so the average user actually knows they're available? How many are available as a packaged product that allows the user to get started with minimal configuration? Many advanced users who have used competing products for their free cost of acquisition and/or tweakability have either switched completely to MCE or chosen it as the system they use for their family, in part, because it was less hassle, well integrated, and well supported. The same factors will apply to WHS vs its competition.
Member since:2006-06-24
I know you're a die-hard MS supporter, but that doesn't change the fact that MS has a hard time penetrating new markets,
It's not a new market though is it? It's an extension of a market that they pretty much own; home users. Can't see how a Linux-based solution is going to get around that. If Linux was making any headway on the home desktop, then it would have a chance.
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Member since:
2005-07-06
Yes, that's the point I was making. This doesn't give MS a competitive advantage. Serving files and providing other network services can be done by a competitor using FOSS software.
Functionality is only part of the solution. If they can't match usability and provide a packaged product that's easy to setup, and that people actually know is available, WHS still wins.