No early release for Windows Home Server

Unfortunately for those hoping for an August 27th release for Windows Home Server, it won't be happening: this "general availability date" was actually referring to tech support for system builders. Hopefully peeps won't have to wait too long for the box, as it's still on track for its original September / October launch schedule. Until then, why not check out the announcement post, along with our gallery of the software in action.

[Thanks, Arneh and Daniel S.]

[Phillip Black @ Aug 19th 2007 5:37PM]

So what's this going to do?
Can anyone fill me in?

[andrew @ Aug 19th 2007 6:01PM]

http://www.engadget.com/tag/Windows%20Home%20Server/

[Greg Poole @ Aug 19th 2007 8:10PM]

I assume its going to do what we've probably already done with our old junk PCs and run as a media/documents server, perhaps with some software preinstalled. It's interesting to see this kind of thing is beginning to hit the mainstream though.

[Phred @ Aug 19th 2007 6:13PM]

What dreamer thought MS would bring out a product early...?

[nih @ Aug 19th 2007 9:47PM]

I'm tempted to give it a whirl, but I don't see why Windows Home Server couldn't have been deployed as a service/management view for any existing Vista installation. I don't like the idea that I might be losing valuable Vista Ultimate features just to gain a web interface.

[grim.inspiration @ Aug 19th 2007 10:30PM]

Windows Home Server is built on a stripped down Windows 2003. You might be thinking of Longhorn Server, which will be the Vista version.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070108-8573.html

[nih @ Aug 19th 2007 11:15PM]

I just mentioned Vista after looking at the screenshots. If it's really not Vista then sod it, I'm just going to manage my shares without having my hand held. :)

[nih @ Aug 19th 2007 11:17PM]

That is to say I expect my media PC to do more than just serve up files. I wouldn't use a server 2003 based OS because I'd like to use the box for casual gaming as well. I'm guessing 2k3 isn't the best choice of platform to do that on.

[DAZA @ Aug 20th 2007 8:43AM]

You can easily play games on Windows 2003, it's just not the best platform for it. Meaning, it will play games just as well as Windows XP, but if you're primary purpose is gaming, you might as well just use XP. Windows 2003 has the audio service disabled by default I believe, but after you enable it and turn hardware acceleration on it will work fine. I imagine Windows Home Server should be perfectly capable of playing games, since it is not an enterprise solution like Windows 2003 is.

[Aaron @ Aug 19th 2007 10:47PM]

Why is this better than freenas?

[Tom @ Aug 20th 2007 5:08AM]

Are you serious?

Any idiot can use WHS. Seriously. It's not got that much functionality, but damn, the admin interface is simple.

[buzweaver @ Aug 20th 2007 12:10PM]

Peeps? I can see using such terms on a social networking site or forum, but on a product review site? There is a casual feel and a sense of creative liberty in todays 'tech' world, however peeps just stands out like tacky billboard.

[Chris @ Aug 22nd 2007 6:53AM]

Hmm, News: WHS is released here in NZ, it appeared on several of our suppliers site today....... www.ascent.co.nz $250 odd NZ$ and you can buy it now