Comments on: Gates sees a home server in your future

Microsoft's chairman tells why the average person wants a server and explains why they won't have to be a geek to make it work.
Photos: Gates on home servers

[qwerty75]

Just what is needed

Another huge security hole in peoples homes.

If someone needs a file server or whatever, they can easily do it right now for ~$25 with a used xbox and linux.

[Lindy01]

because

setting up Linux on a Xbox 1 is super easy for joe user.

The home server is great idea to centralize and backup a household of data.

[Office-Lurker]

Why an Xbox?

Don't all of you have those spare computer parts lying around for nothing? Buy a nice big Hard Disk and build yourself a Samba Frankenserver!

That will be cheaper and safer than the MS thingy, and you learn a lot about computers.

[adlyb1]

Huh?

So, my mother, whose has become quite a fan of digital photography, but barely knows how to boot her laptop is supposed to go out and buy a Xbox, download Linux and install on the device, immediately voiding the warranty on the hardware for the solution?

She probably doesn't need a server, just an external drive to back up those pictures, but there are people out there who need a solution, and these folks may not have the technical acumen to even deal with what MS is proposing, much less your solution.

Honestly, I think MS's solution will be like the first version of Media Center, long on promise and short on features, but two things will happen. First, their solution will get better over time, and more importantly it will motivate the industry to move more aggresively into this niche.

[Ryo Hazuki]

Just what is needed

Another ignorant comment regarding something people haven't even tried yet.

And I'd love to know your definition of "easy" if you consider easy for the average consumer to install a Linux server in a used Xbox.

[dave95]

Ease of Use, Setup?

Love the question: "Does that mean that every home is going to need a server administrator?"

I don't see you asking a company like Apple such a question.

Though I see many homes with some type of server PC in the future (growing digital content everywhere), I will not hold my breath waiting for MS to make it easy to use and setup.

[rcrusoe]

What a great idea

Just what ever home needs. An "All You Can Eat" buffet for viruses.

[dragonbite]

Microsoft in the middle

If you want something that does everything and just about anything you want providing (you put it together yourself with lots of help from documentation and the community) all on the cheap -- Linux

If you want something that most everything you want very easily (providing Apple decides you want it) and money is not as important a factor -- Apple

If you want something that is somewhere in-between -- Microsoft

[jabbotts]

"They wont have to be a geek"

"Microsoft's chairman tells why the average person wants a server and explains why they won't have to be a geek to make it work."

They won't have to be a geek because the'll be buying Apple servers which can easily be setup and administrated by any average user unlike Billy's servers which require an MSCE to get more than the basic use out of.

But then, my home already has a server and being a Geek, I'm very happy with my Unix doing everything Apple/Windows servers do but better.

[DispelTheMyth]

Sounds like a good idea

As most homes now have multiple computers, so it can be used as central storage,
also by using it to store all your files, you can stop your pc being bogged down with files and stop it running slower

or at least thats what i think it will mean

[FellowConspirator]

Good Idea, Bad Idea

First it's a good idea. These things have been
around for years. Of course, Microsoft's is more
complex than many of the existing plug-and-play
solutions, but they're a new player.

The bad idea part is that the unit is
essentially a Windows PC with a little dressed
up Webmin-style sugar on top. Bad because their
vision includes a unit that draws as much power
as a standard PC, generates as much heat, and
one that is complex (relatively speaking)
without giving a commensurate amount of user
control and flexibility.

I bet it will sell a little bit, but I can't
imagine that it will be very competitive in this
area. Most of the people that don't already have
something like this, yet who are going to see a
use for such a thing, are likely to shop around
and read-up on it, and that will be bad for
sales.

[daveworld]

Agreed

Those that want's one of these will already know all about the market and may go someplace else (Linux?). The average person could care less about a home server unless it's easy to use, setup.

[Andrew Sutherland]

Network storage devices?

If you're concerned with backup, ease of use and having a file source available all the time - why not go for something like this: http://www.nextag.com/Storage-Devices--zznetwork+storagez300099zB6z5---html
I know personally getting people with little to no computer experience to even UNDERSTAND the idea behind a "server" is difficult. And anyone with MORE experience, will probably just build their own. (like in examples in other comments here)
Just my 2 cents...

[G2001]

Server hardware vs. software

Doesn't a server allow you to place your applications in one place and have everyone use them simultaneously? This is the entire problem with home networks. You need to purchase a multi-user version of the software which is too expensive for you at home. All the hardware issues can be resolved in a multitude of ways, whether you use an xbox, linux, more storage, etc. Gates doesn't discuss this in anything that I've seen or read.

[stucz]

xbox as a IPTV set-top box?

Is this true? How does it work? Do you need to download software?

[slim-1]

Here is one Linux for Xbox version

http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=gentoox

Not sure how it is since I no longer buy Microsoft product so I don't own a Xbox.

[rslc]

Vista + Pc Architecture has little Advantage as Home Server.

Windows OS too expensive,
PC architecture overkill and
consumes too much power for a home 24/7 device.

A cheap ~<1GHz Embedded processor with a 16MB software (linux + licensed server software)
can do everything.
Much much quieter and cheaper too.

Buffalo already has this.
Apple can do this easily with good design.
Just ensure expandability and ease of use.

[airbns]

Hello to DRM Hell. Who'd want to trust Microsoft?

You're right about your comments.

Microsoft is trying to sell this item as a plug and play server. So I have to ask myself: "When the heck has Microsoft ever made the server side easier?" The answer, of course, is never.

I look at this four ways:

1) It is or probably will be based around Vista, which means the hardware is going to be more expensive than if based on another, less all-controlling OS

2) It's a server - will I have the same ease-of-use if I was to plug my Mac, my Linux box and my SunOS box into it? I seriously doubt it. In the past, MS has purposely broken this kind of functionality to further its monopoly. They've made my past life a living hell on this point, so why would I trust them now? Why would I think they're even capable of interoperability? And if they manage it, why should I expect it to last any longer than is convenient for Microsoft?

3) DRM. Microsoft's position on digital rights management is about as onerous as any out there. And yet they're pushing this as a media storage appliance. So the first time I get the message that I'm not allowed to copy my dvd movie onto it, or that I've played my song twice already and the system is going to delete it, how am I supposed to react? Except of course, to yell at an inanimate object and boot the darn box across the room.

4) Isn't this just the beginning of a world with the MS thin client? Hmmm.

So why buy Microsoft in the first place? Thanks, but I'll wait until someone else does it.

[Penguinisto]

What if I already have one?

1) It didn't cost me tons of $$$

2) I don't have to buy licenses from MSFT to operate it

3) I can put whatever hardware I want into it

4) It doesn't phone home to MSFT or any other OS vendor to tell them what all is on it

/P

[un-sound]

yeah: purplenova gets it

it's a lightweight app
it's a freeware
converts any windows PC into a web host
pretty cool!

[Bellette]

Bill Gates, All Talk, No Action, As Usual.

It's all very well to explain how 'Wonderful and Rich' all this is going
to be but, at the end of the day (literally) it'll be Apple that actually
releases their products for us to buy and take home to use.

Watch the Keynote at MacWorld when it's available and tell me if I'm
wrong...

[City_Of_LA]

Lol,

Are you calling a man that build a multi-billion dollar company from scratch someone that doesn't take action?

[rslc]

All Microsoft knows is...

All they know is to give windows a different name:

Media centre, TabletPc, Origami,
and now HomeServer...

Products for geeks, not real people.
The only time they make "better products"
are when they start copying:
XBox, Zune.

Wait...what about that NAS/Mediaserver???

[slim-1]

I got it...I got it

Let's call it (drum roll please)....


The Home Freezer Windows Edition.

[rslc]

The real HomeServer....Apple MediaServer

should be one that also

a) sync/links up with iTunes

b) streams live TV from server to iTunes/PC (like Sling) and iTV.

c) streams audio/video files to network devices like iTV, slimdevice and roku.

d) records multiple Tv shows as a network PVR

I had foreseen this years back
and am hoping for one by Apple,
(without the DRM ie. sigh..)

[mofo111]

Home Server System

"Does that mean that every home is going to need a server
administrator?"

"Gates: No it's important to look hard at what the focus of that
device has been, which is the easy setup and no ongoing need to
worry about it at all."

LOL! Yeah, right. Microsoft is going to come up with a easy-to-
use, worry-free home server system. In your dreams, Bill. And
even there it's going to be easy-to-use and worry-free only after
version 1545.

[mh20932]

This is a stupid attempt to sell more OS licenses

Everything Gates suggests could be done on a server could also be done on one of the existing household computers. Why would you buy another box for this?

[alek_nedic]

Why would you?

http://www.analogstereo.com/volvo_owners_manual.htm

[groyal]

Having seen the IPhone and Apple TV

The Apple announcement makes the Microsoft announcement an embarrassment. First warmed over XP then a home server geeezzzz. Maybe they could ship a Microsoft employee with each server to keep it going.

[Britguy in NZ]

We have a home server now

always 5 years behind just as he was with the internet we have had a home server for over 5 years used to be the internet dialup gateway for the network now with BB it's a storage and backup unit

[Ryo Hazuki]

We who?

Always ignorance and bias just like when talking about any Microsoft product, you should explain and think twice who exactly has a home server now because the average consumer certainly hasn't yet and that is his goal, Einstein.

[prvpandey]

Home Server - Microsoft

It is really hilarious moment that MS is trying to cover every sphere of Biz. I will suggest them first compete with Google on search engine sphere.
Microsoft do not Copy Paste the Ideas of the startups & individuals. I guess there shouls be a law that companies will be fined for thwarting Innovation.
Praveen Pandey