Microsoft Sends “Put Up or Shut Up” Message To Yahoo
Microsoft is sick of Yahoo dragging its feet on MS’s proposed acquisition of the internet company, and has published a stern letter from CEO Steve Ballmer to Yahoo’s board. The letter basically says that Yahoo has had plenty of time to make a decision, and Microsoft wants them to either make a deal or face a hostile takeover. Considering the dragging its feet caused Yahoo to be in this weak position, it should surprise no one that they can’t even lose gracefully.
Data Corruption Bug Fixed in Next Home Server Update
The Home Server blog has announced that they have come up with a fix for the data corruption bug that has plagued Home Server users in certain circumstances. Since they are working on Power Pack 1 for Home Server, due for public beta testing next month, they are including the fix with the Power Pack in order to ensure everyone gets it.
Open XML Becomes International Standard
The members of the ISO voted 75% to 14% to approve Microsoft Office 2007’s Open XML file formats as an international standard, removing the barrier erected when the IBM-backed ODF format did the same thing two years ago. The two file formats are now on a level playing field, ensuring that government agencies will choose the better (and more cost-effective) office suite, not the one with ISO certification. ISO controls Open XML now, not Microsoft, and can change any part of the spec, with Microsoft forced to change Office to comply.
Another 11-Cent Dividend Coming To Microsoft Shareholders
Microsoft has announced yet another dividend for shareholders, another 11 cents for those invested in the company. Shareholders as of May 15, 2008 will get their dividend on June 12. This will make $4.72 returned to shareholders over the last five years, just over 16% of the stock price.
Silverlight-powered MLB Site Has Disastrous First Week
Baseball season started last week, and the launch of Major League Baseball’s new Silverlight-powered MLB.tv site, where you can pay to watch live games on your computer, had a terrible opening day. With fans paying $20 a month or $120 a year to watch games only on their computer (almost as much as you’d pay to watch a higher quality version on cable or satellite), they were understandably peeved at not getting what they paid for. Now word on whether the problems were on Microsoft’s side or MLB’s, but having such a high-profile launch go bad isn’t a good thing for Microsoft’s important Silverlight technology.
April 6th, 2008
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Server, Home Server, Silverlight, Yahoo Acquisition, Developers, Corporate, Windows, Open Source, Yahoo, Office, Applications |
one comment
“Mommy, Why is There a Server in the House?“, the funny fake children’s book about Windows Home Server, is now available for sale on Amazon.com. For just $5.95, and eligible for free shipping in large enough orders, this book (which I talked about in December) is a pretty funny addition to any Microsoft fanboy’s bookshelf. I just wonder if it is at all useful as an actual children’s book.
The reviews on Amazon
are pretty funny, with reviewers coming up with funny other books in the series, like:
- The Little Server that Occasionally Couldn’t
- Grim Server Tales
- Blue Screen and Spam
- 1000100111001010100101 and Other Favorites
- Oh, The Porn Sites You’ll Visit!
- Sydney Sims Likes to Run Bob Desktop
- When FlightSim Does Not Work
- Rover the dog says “SYN/ACK!
- How to be the Best at Firewall Configuration (The Boy’s Book)
- Big, Bad Bill And The Blue Screen of Death
Turns out Microsoft was giving this away at their CES booth, so it’s a real shame I missed it. I might just have to pay the six bucks for the giveaway book, just for the good laugh.
(via the Home Server blog)
February 18th, 2008
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Humor, Windows, General |
no comments
Microsoft showed off Power Pack 1 for Windows Home Server at CES this week. The update features 64-bit compatibility for the Home Server Connecter software, letting Windows XP and Vista PCs with 64-bit processors install the software that lets them connect to a Home Server. It also adds the ability to back up your entire Home Server to external storage, so you can take a full backup of your critical data offsite or put it in a fire-proof safe in case something damages your Home Server.
The update, expected to be delivered through Windows Update this Spring, also features improved power consumption and adds support for Chinese and Japanese languages.
January 11th, 2008
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Windows |
no comments
I’m liking the cool direction thought up by the marketing folks to push Home Server. StayAtHomeServer.com paints the Home Server as some sort of nightly news story, tongue firmly planted in cheek. There are some interesting and funny videos about Home Server there.
(via Nick Mayhew)
They’ve made a children’s book for the campaign, called “Mommy, Why is There a Server in the House? Helping Your Child Understand the Stay-At-Home Server” by Dr. Tom O’Connor Ph.D. The introduction says:
Just so you know, Tom O’Connor does not actually have a Ph.D. He is also not actually a person. And the entire premise of this book is fictional. But on the bright side, a Windows Home Server is a real product. Perhaps you’d like to buy one?
Apparently, a server is a “funny-looking box” that “makes friends with computers”, offices are places where people say bad words, and when a mommy and a daddy love each other very much, they get a Home Server. The book will be on Amazon soon, and I’m going to love having it on my bookshelf.
(via the Home Server blog)
Finally, Donavon West has a new Home Server Hacks blog. For now, it just tells you how to upgrade the RAM in an HP Media Smart Home Server (which the company claims is impossible, but is actually quite doable) and a walkthrough for adding a hard drive to the server. Hopefully he’ll get into more general Home Server tips in the future.
December 10th, 2007
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Windows |
2 comments
Windows Home Server users are gifted today with yet another system update, adding some small new stuff to the operating system. Your Home Server now gets an SSL certificate for remote access (you’ll have to re-run setup to get it). Also, they’ve added a Delete All button to delete all home computer backups on the server and shipped improvements to the Shared Folder and Server Storage componenents.
November 28th, 2007
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Windows |
no comments
Windows Home Server, despite being finalized in late August/early September, got its official launch day on Monday, as Microsoft introduced the product and the first Home Server PCs to the marketplace. Here’s the press release, announcing the retail release of HP’s oft-delayed MediaSmart Server, which is available now for pre-order and should hit stores within weeks, as well as these systems:
- Available in Europe in late 2007, the Fujitsu Siemens Computers SCALEO Home Server 1900 offers 1TB capacity across two hard drives, Gigabit Ethernet and advanced power management features.
- Iomega Corp. today unveiled new details about its home server product due in early 2008, the Iomega HomeCenter Server, which will ship with one 500GB hard drive and four “easy-swap” drive bays for storage expansion.
- Available in early 2008, the Life|ware Life|storage will offer enterprise-class capabilities to consumers, including Life|ware Entertainment and Automation Server software for home management.
- The MAXDATA Belinea o.center, which will also be available in Europe soon, is energy-efficient, offers advanced management and media functions, and allows up to four hot plug SATA hard drives.
- Also available in Europe later this year, the Medion Home Server comes with up to 2 TB of storage capacity and will offer universal plug-and-play media streaming based on PacketVideo PVConnect software.
- Available now, the Tranquil PC T7-HSA Tranquil Harmony Home Server is a small, quiet and energy-efficient solution with 500GB and 1TB options.
- On sale today, the Velocity Micro NetMagix HomeServer is a small, sleek unit that can be situated in a horizontal or vertical position, starting with 1 TB of expandable storage capacity.
Engadget has pictures of Medion and Iomega’s Home Servers (and some others), and they look really slick. I’m looking forward to seeing these things in person, and how good the reviews are. The Home Server blog points out that the HP MediaSmart Server is topping Amazon, with the 500 gigabyte version, selling for $570 (thirty dollars off), running as #1 in Computers and PC Hardware, and the 1 terabyte version, selling for $710 (forty dollars off), running #2 in the category.
|
November 6th, 2007
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Windows |
no comments
Microsoft has just made available a free trial of Windows Home Server. The 120-day evaluation disk will only cost six dollars to ship, and give you four months to see if Home Server brings you enough benefits. If it does, the full version will be completely worth whatever it costs, though I’m not sure if you can buy the license from Microsoft or if you just need to head to Newegg. Either way, if you wanted to see whether the hype is a good fit for your house, pick it up now.
What will you receive?
Windows Home Server Installation DVD
Windows Home Server Connector CD
Home Computer Restore CD
Are you ready?
This software is intended for evaluation purposes only. In order to preserve your existing data, you must backup prior to installation. The setup process for server installation will erase any existing data.
(via Absoblogginlutely, found on Findory)
November 2nd, 2007
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Windows, General |
2 comments
Microsoft is holding some webcasts helping users learn more about HP’s MediaSmart Windows Home Server, the flagship Home Server hardware product that will be arriving one of these days. HP will demo the server, plus Rob Enderle, Rick Doherty, Paul Thurrott, and Ed Bott will be talking and answering questions from the audience about the marketplace and why home servers are needed.
Here are the times and scheduled industry experts for the live webcasts:
- Thursday, November 8th
4:00-5:00PM (PT), 7:00-8:00PM (ET)
Rick Doherty - Envisioneering
- Friday, November 9th
1:00PM-2:00PM (PT), 4:00-5:00PM (ET)
Rob Enderle - The Enderle Group
- Tuesday November 27th
10:00AM-11:00AM (PT), 1:00PM-2:00PM (ET)
Paul Thurrott - Supersite for Windows
- Thursday, November 29th
8:00AM-9:00AM (PT), 11:00AM-12:00PM (ET)
Ed Bott - ZDNet
Register for them here.
November 2nd, 2007
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Windows |
no comments
Microsoft put up a Flash site running you through a house that’s been all tricked out, thanks to Windows Home Server. The house has an HP MediaSmart Home Server, home automation control on the living room lamp, backup for all its photos, streaming to an Xbox 360 and a wifi synced Zune keeping the boombox fresh with new music. There are videos and simple explanations of all the Home Server advantages, so check it out.
(via the Home Server blog)
October 30th, 2007
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Windows |
one comment
The Windows Home Server blog discovered a nice bonus when one of their guys hooked up a new DirecTV high definition DVR set-top box: The boxes stream music and photos from Windows Home Server. If you’ve got a DirecTV HR-20 box and a Home Server hooked up to your home network, a new beta service developed with Intel will stream to your TV from the Home Server, and possibly from any Windows Media Connect-compatible client.
While it isn’t as good as a Media Center Extender, it is an easy way to get some extra streaming hardware if you are already a regular DirecTV customer. If enough products people are getting for other reasons work, with no effort on the user’s part, with Home Server, then Home Server becomes a lot more valuable.
October 26th, 2007
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Windows |
3 comments
Four Windows Home Server tidbits:
First off, Home Server is on sale right now at OEM resellers, with Newegg selling it for $190. ClubIT has it for $180, ATACOM for $173. If you’ve been looking to build a Home Server, now’s your chance, especially since Microsoft’s hardware partners have been, to say the least, unreliable.
We Got Served has a list of Windows Home Server add-ons, including one that lets you install anything as a service (so it runs without a logged in user), a download manager, a Windows Mobile connecter, a Windows Mobile wifi music streamer, a Recorded TV manager for use with Media Center, and a Tivo connecter, among others.
There’s a new toolkit for Home Server, a console add-in which helps you troubleshoot the server, tweak Remote Access settings, run server storage diagnostics, reset and erase the entire backup database, tweak backup notifications, send log files, run a command prompt, and troubleshoot your connection to the server.
Finally, I’m just about ready to load up my server, with the RAM I’ve been waiting on finally bought last night. I’ve got the RTM software lying on my desk, ready to be installed, and it should be fun reviewing Home Server and seeing what this baby can do. I’m excited at the possibilities.
October 19th, 2007
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Windows |
no comments
TechData is selling Windows Home Server OEM software at its lowest price yet, just $161. Of course, they won’t have it in stock until late this month, and they don’t expect more than fifty copies, so try some other places if you’re in a rush:
Find any better prices?
I actually just got my copy of Home Server from Microsoft, and I’ve got the perfect computer for it. Problem is, it’s light on RAM, so if anyone has some 168-pin non-ECC RAM, sticks of 512MB-1 gigabyte that they don’t need or would like to sell me for cheap (or trade for DVDs and others stuff), it’d be a huge help. Use the contact form and please let me know.
October 11th, 2007
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Windows |
no comments
Microsoft shipped the anticipated first update for Windows Home Server, which enhances the usability, out-of-the-box experience, firewall issues, remote access troubleshooting, help with creating user accounts, and improvements in backing up computers that disconnect from the network. They even removed the need to enter the product key if Home Server shipped with your computer and removed the need for a reboot the first time your restore a single file.
They’re also talking about Update Release 1, the next update for Home Server. They will be alternating major and minor releases, with the current release a major one and URI being a minor one, expected for November. Read more about it from Mary Jo.
The winners of the first Code2Fame contest for Home Server add-ins were announced, with Andrew Grant picking up first prize for Whiist. Whiist lets you put HTML pages on a Home Server and run it remotely as a regular web server, and drop photos into a folder to be able to view them over the internet. Second prize was a service for backing up your Home Server to Amazon S3, and third prize was an add-in that pulls text, audio or video from RSS feeds for sharing to Home Server connected devices.
October 9th, 2007
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Windows |
no comments
Microsoft has gone and hired Doug Berrett, developer of WebGuide. WebGuide is an amazing piece of software that lets you access Windows Media Center (XP or Vista) from a web browser, letting you watch live TV and recordings, schedule new recordings, access music and pictures, all over any internet connection, and do pretty much the same thing through Windows Mobile as well. It’s amazing, and it is now 100% free!
Microsoft hired Doug to work on Media Center development (though not related to the things WebGuide does), so he wrapped up development and removed the $18 price tag. Active development of WebGuide is over, which is a shame, so hopefully someone will think about doing open source updates, though the software is pretty excellent already. Download WebGuide now that it’s free and see what the fuss is about.
Interestingly, there is a recent beta of WebGuide for Windows Home Server. Hopefully Doug will let someone else complete the project, because that is too damn useful to not be finished.
(via Download Squad and Neowin)
September 6th, 2007
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Corporate, Media Center, Windows |
one comment
Microsoft announced that a significant update to the Windows Home Server operating system is currently being prepped for delivery via Windows Update before the end of the month. Even though Home Server hasn’t been sold to any users yet, Microsoft was able to identify a number of improvements to the usability and user experience of Home Server that it can ship quickly, so new Home Servers and installed servers will be gifted with these improvements.
We’ve identified a number of ways to make the product even better since the initial release. As with most Microsoft products, updates to Windows Home Server will be automatically available throughout the lifecycle of the product and the WHS team is working on an update that will be available in September. These updates will enhance the usability and improve the out-of-the-box experience of home server solutions.
PC World quotes Microsoft, which says:
Microsoft says the updates include fine tuning of the out-of-box experience with added prompts and dialog boxes guiding consumers through the setup process. Other enhancements include more reliable remote server access, automatic router and firewall setting tools, and enhancements to synchronizing features.
HP, a company that seems to always have all sorts of problems, has announced that it will delay its MediaSmart Home Server by an extreme amount in order to deploy the update. This is almost certainly an excuse the company is making due to some sort of screw-up on its part, masking problems with its hardware by blaming Microsoft’s update, deciding to delay hardware due to a simple software update for three to five months.
If I were Microsoft, I would be extremely angry at HP right now. Microsoft’s promotion for Home Server the last half year could have been called a big commercial for HP, which was its flagship hardware partner. HP’s awful delay decision is going to severely hurt Home Server and make it harder to succeed. Luckily, it will hurt HP even more.
There is a decent community of people who have been eagerly awaiting Home Server, and they won’t wait for January to get an HP. These people are going to buy Medion, MaxData, Chili Green, or they’ll just build one themselves. HP isclaiming the delay will be 75-120 days, which could make the holiday season (87 days away) but they are just as likely to miss it, based on this performance. Christmas is 112 days away, and a few days before that is a miss as well.
Next time around, pick someone more reliable than HP, like Asus.
Current estimated Home Server hardware delivery dates:
| Manufacture |
Release Date |
| Medion |
October 2007 |
| MaxData |
October 2007 |
| Chili Green |
October 2007 |
| Fujitsu Siemens |
November 2007 |
| Lacie |
November 2007 |
| Leo |
November 2007 |
| HP |
January 2008 |
September 4th, 2007
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Windows, General |
no comments
Newegg has announced it will be selling Windows Home Server within mere weeks, and that depending on wholesale costs, it will probably retail for about $179-$189. That’s pretty much matching the low end of the pricing on international sites, though higher than I had hoped. I thought the U.S. usually got a lower price?
So, now that it’s almost here, are you buying Home Server and building a system (or turning an old system into something far more useful? If you plan on it, drop me a line and let me know of your plans. I’d love to feature the process here.
August 30th, 2007
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Windows |
2 comments
HP’s MediaSmart Server is the first one to be listed for sale, with Amazon, PCMall and others listing it. The sites have removed the price, but before they did, it was listed at $500 for 500 gigabytes and $750 for one terabyte of storage space.
Some specs on the system:
- 500 gigabytes storage for HP EX470 MediaSmart Home Server, 1 terabyte for HP EX475 Mediasmart Home Server
- Processor: 1.8GHz AMD Sempron 64-bit processor
- Hard drives: SATA 7200 RPM
- Warranty: 1 year parts/labor
- USB: 4 ports, one on the front
- Drive bays: 4
- Expansion capacity: Up to 6 terabytes
- Dimensions: 9.7 x 9.2 x 5.5
- Weight: 1 pound
- RAM: 512 MB of DDR2
- Network: Gigabit Ethernet
- One eSATA port
- Software (in addition to Windows Home Server operating system): HP Photo Webshare for photo sharing and sending to Snapfish for printing
August 24th, 2007
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Windows |
5 comments
The pricing of Windows Home Server hasn’t been released, and it never officially will be. Officially, there is no retail version of Home Server, just the version made for the system builder/OEM channel. Sellers of that version will probably not say what they paid for it, and Microsoft isn’t telling, so different stores will come up with different prices for the install disk.
What we do know is that a few places are selling Home Server, and this is what they are charging:
- $264 New Zealand, or $179.76 in US dollars, plus GSTax.
- $287.23 New Zealand, or $195.62 in US dollars, including GSTax.
- £75.94, or $150.32, not including VAT. £89.23 including VAT, or $176.62.
- €131,67 to €150 from eight suppliers, or $176.98-201.62.
- $229.96 Australian dollars, or $180.31.
(prices via MSWHS > Ars)
How much will you pay? I can guarantee it won’t be higher than $175, except at price gouging online stores, and I expect the price to be $150 at most places. If the Europeans are getting a raw deal, then $125 might even be possible. At those prices, turning an old computer into a Home Server is going to look like a great idea.
August 20th, 2007
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Home Server, Server, Windows |
3 comments
