According to Microsoft's beta tester site for Windows Home Server, they "will be notifying all applicants this week that they can now access the Windows Home Server RC build in order to download the software." Folks in the beta program can already access the latest release but others may join by completing this participation survey. Ars has more.
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Member since:2005-07-06
"It's a good product: I would buy it (if I ever knew how much it will cost ;-)"
HP has mentioned full WHS systems w/ 1TB storage for under $1,000. Google HP MediaSmart for more info. No one knows what retail price will be for just the OS, though it'll be a good idea to purchase an OEM supported system until MS gets the kinks ironed out of the installation routine.
Member since:2007-02-22
Microsoft puts it like this: "OEMs will set the final pricing for their products, depending on the storage capacity and additional capabilities." They're just making the software that will let others build the toys.
Since the average home user won't be willing to pay $1000 (much less the many thousands a full-scale industrial recovery/backup server could cost) for a machine that basically does nothing until something goes wrong, OEMs will almost definately try to keep the price down.
What I want to know is whether or not we'll be able to have two WHS boxes on a network. Not right away, of course but if you buy a new WHS-box every so often and the old one still works, will they be able to work together so your backups are twice as redundant?
Member since:
2005-07-06
Agreed. This is "just" a budle of useful services coupled into an appliance with ultimate goal to make simple hardware devices.
Anyone having a LAN in your house should instantly understand how good this could be. Well, actually even if you have a single PC (expecially if that's a portable PC like notebooks or laptop) might find it very handy.
It's a good product: I would buy it (if I ever knew how much it will cost ;-)