HP’s Windows Home Server systems finally reach Australia

Fornax (Regular user):

still not sure why you would buy this instead of a good nas.

Esquire (New user):

The Remote Desktop feature with Wake-on-lan add-in is one reason. I use it all the time. The WHS Backup feature is another, even if you only ever have to use it once the ease of recovery and knowing your data is constantly being backed up is priceless.
That said I would not by one of these, I use the server constantly and have made my own with a much faster dual core chip, 4gb's of RAM and 4.5Tb of Shared Storage

Tin (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Esquire:
The Remote Desktop feature with Wake-on-lan add-in is one reason.


Or use any of the thousands of other systems that can run a wake on lan tool.


Quoting Esquire:
The WHS Backup feature is another


Or use one of thousands of other backup tools. Even one designed to back up to disk can back up to a NAS.


Quoting Esquire:
That said I would not by one of these


And I suspect 99% of Australians feel the same. Either they don't see the need for a home server, or they already own one. The few who fit the market are still then free to choose WHS or some other option like a NAS, a router with NAS capability (like those Asus ones with USB ports) or some other server.

Esquire (New user):

Quoting Tin:
Quoting Esquire:
That said I would not by one of these

It may not be clear but I set up my home built 'Server' with Windows Home Server I just wanted one that was more powerful then the HP's.
Generalizing, Tin, PeterT and most readers here, including myself are not your average computer user and could set up linux based open source software solutions but this isn't targeted to the people that understand that stuff.
With WHS you have a rock solid Windows 2003 Server base code with just the right functionality for a house with a couple computers to backup, share files, remotely access and share printers without the setup challenge and hassle.
I have set these up for Family overseas and the in-laws and feel a lot more comfortable knowing that when they call and say the computer has stopped working I don't have to worry about them losing their photos and other personal documents. Plus I can remotely logon to the Windows Homme Server console and their computers and make sure things are running ok or fix issues.
In Summary, yes better/more powerful solutions are available but I wouldn't expect most people to know how to setup and use them. This has plug and play functionality with a balanced feature set.

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Esquire:
and most readers here, including myself are not your average computer user and could set up linux based open source software solutions

Most perhaps, some of them would have trouble getting out of their own way though, let alone setting up any kind of server.


Quoting Esquire:
With WHS you have a rock solid Windows 2003 Server base code

Rock solid Windows? um yeah, when did this happen?


Quoting Esquire:
with just the right functionality for a house

Which house exactly? just the right functionality? based on? Looks mor like a designed for dumbest American and the rest of you can take what your given type offering to me.


Quoting Esquire:
without the setup challenge and hassle.

Which setup challenges and hassles are these? I can show you at least 5 Nix builds which would be arguably easier than any windows to load, run and (most importantly) customise.


Quoting Esquire:
I have set these up for Family overseas and the in-laws and feel a lot more comfortable

Where is the comfort in a less robust and less secure system at a remote location?


Quoting Esquire:
I don't have to worry about them losing their photos and other personal documents.

how does that work? Hardware in a Windows box never fails? The only way you lose that worry with any OS is a good backup strategy. Something that is very unlikely to be maintained by family friends or in-laws.



Quoting Esquire:
Plus I can remotely logon to the Windows Homme Server console

Hate to break it to you but that is far from a WHS exclusive.


Quoting Esquire:
and make sure things are running ok or fix issues.

again no exclusive. How does it go with remote harware replacement?


Quoting Esquire:
yes better/more powerful solutions are available

And many of those more powerful solutions are as easy/easier to setup and maintain, and will likely load in a fraction of the time taken for a Windows install.


Quoting Esquire:
but I wouldn't expect most people to know how to setup and use them.

How is a dumbing down the server any advantage, people devoid of even basic network concepts will be just as unable to setup WHS. More to the point such people will be in not position to gain any advantage from any server.


Quoting Esquire:
This has plug and play functionality with a balanced feature set.

A web interface is a web interface, doesn't mater a fig what OS it runs. More to the point when it comes to customisation and personalisation, WHS sure does not hold any advantage.

Esquire (New user):

It is tough to make any comments without exposing yourself to the inevitable 'Refute everything that person says' especially when it's about an MS product. I will not entertain the opportunity to banter back and forth about NAS, Linux or other based devices, or god forbid we get Apple fanboys on here... but I agree with most of your views and still think WHS is a good product for the reasons I have already mentioned.

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Esquire:
'Refute everything that person says' especially when it's about an MS product.

Not at all, just another point of view.



Quoting Esquire:
I will not entertain the opportunity to banter back and forth about NAS, Linux or other based devices

Isn't that the point of a forum, to see a variety of viewpoints and to offer dission on those point and the titled article?


Quoting Esquire:
but I agree with most of your views and still think WHS is a good product for the reasons I have already mentioned.

I don't disagree that it's a worthwhile product, it's not that bad. What I do not see is any clear advantages to WHS other other offerings. That and the crazy way WHS is only being sold through a few sales channels creates a lot of doubt about it's overall success.

Esquire (New user):

Quoting Raindog:
Isn't that the point of a forum, to see a variety of viewpoints and to offer dission on those point and the titled article?
Yes but this is the News comments section and I am not a fanboy with strong views that I feel like supporting. I only hope my comments can assist anybody reading about my real world use and appreciation for WHS.


Quoting Raindog:
What I do not see is any clear advantages to WHS other other offerings. That and the crazy way WHS is only being sold through a few sales channels creates a lot of doubt about it's overall success.

I am curious to your preferred products for the backup, NAS, and remote access please enlighten me, it sounds as though it is free, I will try it on my test bench and then have a better ability to appreciate your views.
It should be mentioned that WHS was released in Australia 2 years ago as a Systems Builders edition, Shopbot has it now at $130. If you don't like the HP price or package make your own.

petert (Senior member):

I agree with Tin and fornax - I just don't see the point of WHS. I may have some "special feature" for a niche market, but overall, it seems to merely replicate functions that can be done for a lot cheaper by a NAS.

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting petert:
I just don't see the point of WHS.

I can see the point of it, it's a colour by numbers server not that dissimilar from the Apple mini mentioned elsewhere.
All the dissertion about titles is meaningless, end of the day a NAS is a Server, a multi-purpose server usually offers some form of NAS. Just as a moder router is often modem + router + switch + access point, most of these server/NAS appliance are now covering roles.

I see the biggest disadvantage in WHS being its lack lustre and essentially Vista based only apps. Sure the pay token attention to others but the MS isn't in it.

The other big question is who will buy it, It's gereally too under-done for the fanatics, it's nowhere near as flexible as open source offerings, the paint by numbers set dont know why they'd need a server and are usually frightened by the mere suggestion. Given that and it's near impossible to buy I dont see a huge future without some strategic revision.

All that said a meagre powered $599 number could have the think before you buy set giving harvey their plastic quicker than you can say "early netbook", in they thin hope it will be one up on the neighbors.

jackandlyn (New user):

you seem to make it deliberately difficult to get windows 7 upgrade from vista. I purchased my hp desktop 8th august and vista is no good to me It is impossible to free upgrade as offered by hp. what do I have to do here in Australia...cut some veins???? Jack