November 8th, 2007

HP's new home server is small, smart, and impressively simple

Posted by Ed Bott @ 9:37 am

Categories: Hardware, Image Galleries, Windows Home Server

Tags: Hewlett-Packard Co., PC, Storage, Backup, Microsoft Windows Home Server, Server, Microsoft Corp., David, MediaSmart Hardware, Velocity Micro

Earlier this year, I looked at a beta release of Windows Home Server and called it a “home run” for Microsoft. This week, Hewlett Packard announced that it would begin taking orders for its new MediaSmart servers, which are built on the Windows Home Server platform, with actual shipments set to begin later this month.

I’ve been running the final OEM release on my own server, using a spare PC as the hardware platform, since the code was released to manufacturing nearly three months ago. In that three months, it’s become an indispensable part of my home network. So when Hewlett Packard called last month and asked whether I wanted some hands-on time with a MediaSmart review unit, I jumped at the chance.

[To see the MediaSmart server in action, visit my exclusive image gallery]

My biggest question was simple: Why should I buy this hardware when I can build my own server, presumably for less? In theory, the OEM software Microsoft supplies provides a solid base of features and functionality. It’s up to hardware vendors to add value with innovative design and complementary software to differentiate their product from the competition. In the desktop PC market, that rarely happens. After spending the last two weeks comparing the MediaSmart Server to one I built, I see the difference. HP has served up a nearly perfect example of how OEMs can take a solid OS and make it much better. Don’t even think of building your own home server until you’ve seen what HP has done with this small, quiet, extraordinarily expandable machine.

Street prices for the MediaSmart server start in the mid-$500 range. So what do you get for that price?

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