Win a Copy of Windows Home Server

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/default.mspx' target='_blank'>http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/default.mspx</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/nov14-windows-home-server-giveaway.jpg" /><br /><br />When I came back from the <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,12758">Windows Consumer Experience Event</a> in New York last month, I had a copy of <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/default.mspx">Windows Home Server</a> in my hands. The thing is, I was already given a copy via the MVP program - so guess what that means? Giveaway! If you want a win a copy of this software, you should know what you'll need: a dedicated computer, I'd say at minimum something in the 1 Ghz CPU realm, at least 512 MB of RAM, and at least a 100 GB hard drive (more storage is better of course). One of the great features of Windows Home Server is how you can plug in a USB hard drive and it's added to the overall storage pool. I have six USB hard drives connected to it, with 2 TB of overall storage. It's a beautiful thing.<br /><br />To win a copy of this software (<a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116395">retail $179 USD</a>), here's all you have to do: tell me how you'd use it. To back up your photos? To stream music to your Xbox? To access your computers remotely? Post a message in this discussion thread telling me how you'd use Windows Home Server to make your digital life more secure, more fun, or easier. One week from today, on the 21st at 12 noon GMT -7, I'll do a random drawing of all the entries. I look forward to reading them all!

[Kevin Jackson]

I would love to set up a home file server/media server/remote access server for all the computers I have (6 at last count -- I work out of my home). It would make my life much easier if I had easy access to commonly used files, music and photos.

[Shagin099]

Well, I already have a file server so I would use it mainly for its automatic backup stuff. I have 4 PCs right now (2 laptops, a desktop, and a server, and I'm getting a new core 2 quad system soon) and its really hard to keep them all backed up. Although streaming music to my 360 sounds like a great idea too....

-Dan

[Outlaw94]

I would definitively like to have a the ability to stream music to my Xbox and have a file server set up. I have the needed parts laying around to build one today (minus the software). I keep everything on data DVDs in sleeves in boxes but it would be nice to have all my music and photos (all currently sitting on a USB drive) backed up and secure from loss and have the the ability to keep my videos in an easily accessible place to stream to my multiple computer household.

[hoby]

I would use it to back up the multiple laptops and systems in my home as well as stream to my Xbox 360 and Tivo Series 3 via the Tivo Publisher for WHS!

I was in on the beta, but they didn't hook us up with copies at the end, and I haven't had the cash to go purchase WHS yet, but I can tell you it is quite awesome, and with all the plugins that are out and coming, you will not be disappointed!

[gstenger]

This would be great so that I could have a central place for all of our music, photos, and file backups. The ability to access my home computer from anywhere would be great as well.

[brianchris]

I first heard about Home Server while I was at the 2007 CES, and personally, I thought it was the best product there (and I've been lusting after it ever since ;)

I would use it for remote access, backup of four home computers, and to share media off of across the home network....pretty much everything it is designed to do!

[hawkeye]

I would use WHS to backup my desktop and laptop computers. As well as backup/stream digital photos, music, and home videos around the house and to my Windows Mobile.

I hope someday to be able to also stream to my Series 2 DirecTivo or maybe to my Wii......that's probably just wishful thinking

[possmann]

love to setup a home network and manage that remotely - be able to address issues with kids' desktops remotely - be able to accesss certain files when I am away from work.

Share pictures with others
Centeral storage for all media
Backups of desktops
Management of kid's accounts centrally instead of setting up parental controls on their individual desktops
manage connectivity to the internet from a central box from where ever I am...

I'm drooling aboutr this - Pick Me! Pick Me!

[dblml320]

I run a central media repository in my house. CD's that come into the house get ripped to the repository and put away for safe keeping. I would use WHS to give my son at college access to the media repository.

[nitestrike]

I would have to say there are several things I would do with it. Backups of my home computers. Remotely accessing files. And probably install WebGuide for HomeServer and stream media from it.

[KevinM10]

stream/provide home movies, music, and digital photo's to the household

[Filip Norrgard]

Seeing as I feel that I'm backing up well enough at the current moment, here's what I would do:

I would use WHS to build a backup server for my parents and little brother. My lil' bro' doesn't know the real value in backing up his school work and essays just yet. So, it would probably be better if he didn't have to learn it the hard way. :)

On the other hand, my mom needs to backup her photos really bad. In addition to the WHS copy serving as a backup server for documents and photos, I would add an additional layer of backup to the photos by having them copied to a paid backup server (I think it is 50 GB for 5€) just to be on the save side.

For my dad I would add my own coded program that uses X10 devices to turn on and off the car engine heaters at exact times and not leave him to have to remember turning them on. (Maybe event turning the heaters on an hour earlier if the outdoor temperature is below -15 degrees Celsius) The same X10 could also be configured to turn on the outdoor lights when it gets dark (which is quite early now) and maybe turn on some lights indoors as well.

[sundown]

I'd use WHS as both a backup server as well as a repository for shared data. We've reached the point at my house where my wife, son and I need to share files. Shared drive mapping works but only if the shared computer is on. With 3 desktops and 2 laptops, we need a central storage and backup solution. From a backup standpoint, my situation is reaching a critical stage. I work from home and there is no simple way to backup 300 GB of data. A smaller, less power hungry central home server will also save us power, since we can often leave off the beast that currently serves as both a shared drive host and my business computer.

[Gordo]

While I currently have a good backup process with multiple USB hard drives, on multiple computers, it would be nice to centralize this on one computer running Home Server.

[RichL]

Central backup + music/video server. Should be great with an Xbox 360. :)

[blot]

I'd love to use WHS as a central repository for my media as well as for backups.

[karinatwork]

This would be perfect to backup the data from our 4 computers at home. Too many pictures and songs all over the place... and I could save my work on there and then access it from any computer in the house. Awesome!

[aphoria]

I will use WHS to backup my wife's 8+ GB of photos, my mp3 collection, and all of our other documents.

I would also like to find a way to backup remote computers, like my parents, to my WHS. Maybe using CrashPlan?

[mak52]

Backups and media storage. Also access over the internet right?

MAK

[Daimhin]

I would use it to have a common place to backup my Windows laptops. And who knows maybe start using it to send music to my Xbox 360. Not something I have done before but always open to try new things.

[Fitch]

I'm getting a new laptop and I was going to use my old one as a home server, by leaving it closed, attaching a USB drive, and keeping it in the basement. I've always wanted a MCE box hooked up to my HDTV so I would be able to use my laptop as the home server, and get Vista Premium on a dedicated media box with HDTV tuner and make a DVR/media box that I can watch from all the computers in my house!

[BubbaJon]

I've been following the development of the Home server as I did not want to go through the hassles of a full blown domain.
Being able to add external drives seamlessly to the pool is a godsend!
As a photographer I use external USB drives to store my photos. As a drive fills up I add another one. But then I have to map drives, which is a hassle to keep up with 3 machines accessing these photos - not to mention the 4 external drives I have attached are seperate and it is best to have seperate catalogs in Lightroom. This makes access fragmented. Being able consolidate the whole mess would be a big improvement in my workflow!

[tasi]

I'd like to load it up in a virtual environment, VMWare, see what I can do with it, experiement. I already have a 2003 server running, just for learning purposes... But home server offers a few different things, it would be nice to do a comparison.

T.

[backpackerx]

I have 3 computers, soon to be 4 so I'd use it for all kinds of things. Streaming video out to any of the 3 laptops, file sharing easier, automated backups of all systems, and so many more geeky things I'd discover after installing it.

[oguime]

I would use it to have a chance of finally having some kind of control over my wife's and my daughter's PCs backups! ;-)

[lingenfr]

As we are a linux household, I would use it as a central platforum that we could remote into to run those few windows apps that we just can't seem to find a replacement for.

[pocketdoc]

I would use is as a media hub and backup server for my 6 computers.

I have come close to making my own server, but have been waiting for this product.

Pick me, pick me...

[mashtim]

I would mainly use it to stream music/video to my various PCs around the house. however, I would RELY on it as a central depository for all my files, of which I always seem to forget that ONE vital file!

[dvljr]

I've been considering loading an old system with home server since I first heard about it. My wife's laptop hasn't been backed up in almost a year. The grandparents keep bugging me to send them current video and pictures, all of which are sitting on my PC doing nothing. It would be great to just let them download it when they had time.
Not to mention I have 4 USB drives sitting around doing nothing.

Pick ME!

[mnitz]

We have a small home network of two computers and a laptop. I would use Windows Home Server to:

1. Back up both of our computers. Jerry's rarely gets backed up.

2. I'd stream both music, photos and video to our new hi-def TV.

3. Share photos to friends and family.

[bikeman]

Well, backup is obvious, but also simply as a single location for all of my data (and music) files. I am taking classes on network security, so I currently have 2 notebooks and 2 desktops networked, running XP, Vista, and 2 flavors of Linux, since we have to learn in both environments. This would allow me to have all my precious stuff available on each without trying to synchronize files. I'd also get to learn a new system, too!

Thanks for the giveaway, Jason! :D

Dan

[Crocuta]

Right now, my wife and I keep separate copies of images, videos and so forth, and it's hard to keep straight whether something exists in one place or both. First, I would use it as a central repository for all of our digital images and digital video files. Then I would add our MP3 collection and learn to store my DVD's there. That, of course, would mean a media center PC as well to play those back on the TV. Hmmm, winning this $179 piece of software could end up costing me a lot of money! :? Oh well, I want it anyway. Maybe it'll be just the push I needed to get me started on all this.

[ShinKen]

I would use it to share files across the laptop and desktop computer we currently have (looking forward to adding another desktop for the wife soon). And then if possible use it to stream both audio and video to my xbox 360 or media center extender (if i ever get around to buying one). And finally for backups.

[xycury]

I've got a wife with over 75000 photos and counting, it's shared between a laptop and a desktop... really scary because she isn't a backup kind of person...

I tried giving her her old laptop hard drive, when she ran out! bought her a bigger one, threw that in an external hard drive case, but it's sitting gathering dust... ugh.

Having Windows Home Server would give life to a skeleton computer I have laying around and also give me peace of mind knowing that our memories are kept somewhere safe.

And maybe I'll be able to push me to back up my videos :D

[GadgetDave]

Backup and streaming. Two great things, that's what I need!

[wesk]

I'd use it to backup the various computers on my network. The remote access is a big plus also, since I travel a lot.

Wes

[rhmorrison]

I currently have a NetGear SC101 which I am unhappy with for several reasons, mainly the software that causes a 100% CPU load and the slow transfer rate.

My normal configuration is one PC and one laptop connected via WLAN with one hp OfficeJet G85 available on the network for printing.

What would I use Windows Home Server for:
Central storage for PHOTOS / MUSIC / VIDEOS
Streaming MUSIC / VIDEOS direct to my X-Box
Central storage for freeware and open source software installers
Automatic backup of important data
Replacement for my NetGear SC101 :D

[dayton]

I've got a 16 year old son who is an information carnivore. We've been talking about building a Home Server/NAS for backup, sharing, extending media, etc. With two laptops, three desktops, an xbox and a handful of portable media players in the house, we could use a system to unify all of it.

We enjoy the newsletter! Thanks for the opportunity!

[leslietroyer]

I'm currently using WHS (1st Beta) to back up all the computers in the house, works great, doesn't take lots of space.

I'm thinking of using WHS as the basis of the home network, and abandon the Windows SBS which is really nice but a bit of over kill for a home system.

Les

[lotusvball]

I currently have a NAS running with NASLite with a raid5 setup. I would like to do the same with another raid5 card and store all my Music, photos and DVDs on it. Using 6 1TB cards that would give me almost 5TB of storage space that I could fill up in about a month. I would then have it connected to my PVR using SageTV to play my DVD's and music through.

[cdcooker]

I will use it to be the server for movie/music/photos/etc, and as a backup tools for other computer, and nonetheless, getting the latest and greatest is my first priority.

[cdcooker]

I will use it to be the server for movie/music/photos/etc, and as a backup tools for other computer, and nonetheless, getting the latest and greatest is my first priority.

[jay0427]

I beta tested Windows Home Server and that beta is about to expire. Of course, Microsoft didn't wish to thank their beta testers for all their hard work but giving them a fully functional version, so I'm stuck with a server that's due to expire very soon.

SO, I would use this copy to bring my Home Server to full retail!

Thanks for the opportunity!

Jay

[raweaver]

I'd use WHS to backup the main family computer with my photos (>14,000), MP3's, Videos. I'd also use it to access these items from my work laptop, when I'm away from the house to show to friends and family. I'd use it to also stream music and TV from the Main computer. I'd also make sure that the game desktop in the basement and my son's computer for school were backed up. I've got 1.5TB ready to go and I'd like to see what it can do.

[yada88]

I would use it for backup purposes and it would likely mean that I could buy cheaper machines that are more clients than large storage boxes.

[makicr]

Media Media Media

I need a big place to store GB and GB of video of my chillians and tens of thousands of photos of their shining faces. All to be accessed by my Buffalo Linkstation for easy TV viewing, and each of my five computers. This will replace what is alleged to be the media sharing capabilities of the Linksys WRT350n. I need it Pleeeeeease.

[AggieJon]

I've been needing something like this for a while. Right now my music/videos/photos are spread out across several computers. I've been looking forward to putting all of that in one central location.

[Merlin_AZ]

I'd use is to put my media on it and use it to backup the PC's in my home network.

[wilkinsjme]

Would be used most importantly to allow for non techies in my house to easily backup restore and access the data they need regardless of the computer they are using. They won't need to ask me.

I would use is as an easy solution to do everytiing I've wanted to do with my home network for backups, sharing, etc. but with an easy to setup and maintain package. Enough of the mapping drives from computer to computer as a sharing solution.

[cmchavez]

Because my wife is sooo skittish with the concept of digital photography and possibly losing any of her picture files stored on our home computer, priority one would be to use the new home server to backup the photos in a more secure location. Being able to remote control the server would also have some advantages, but I currently do that through a third party application.

[alese]

We are moving to new house this month and this is perfect opportunity to redesign my LAN.
Basically I intend to set up server, that will act as shared storage for all documents and media and handling of Backups. Also it should act as media server for my Squeezebox players.

[Cold Flame]

Well, what I would use it for is likely much the same as everybody else.

My problem is most certainly movies/music/digital photos. I never seem to find the time to back them up properly, and what with my daughter having been born in the "digital era", all the photos I have of her are digital and very few hard copies exist. That poses a severe problem.

As well, my wife and I run a home-based business and she does a lot of work from both my PC and her laptop, and I also bring my work laptop home on occasion. It would be nice to have my files syncing automatically or to have network drives to be working off of rather than worrying about who has the newest version of what file.

Not to mention the remote access capabilities would be really nice. As it is now, I can terminal into my home PC using RDP, but it would be nice to have a bit more access beyond that.

So, to sum it up, I would essentially use it for a file repository and general basic use server. The most important aspect this would play in my home environment would the backup aspect. I really need to start backing up my files more regularly before something bad happens to them. *sighs* Aside from that, I haven't read a whole lot about Windows Home Server, but what I have heard and read tells me that I need one! =)

Cheers,

Cold Flame

[edved]

I'm building a system with spare parts with an older AMD x2 3800. This would be the ideal addition to that system to enable me to back my files ie: video, audio and photo.

Apparently it's quite intuitive and helps to simplify the process of setting up a server in the home. I definitely need that help!

Thanks.

[garypetro]

I would use WHS to replace Acronis as my backup/imaging system of choice. And with single instance storage, I'll have more room for my terabytes of digital media!

[the_rapture]

I would love to have this to backup all of my photos, video and other files over the network. I can't use online backups because of my limited bandwidth. I would use it with my XBOX 360 to stream video to my TV.

:)

[Mexico]

I'd use it to back up my 2 desktops, my laptop, and my girlfriend's 2 desktops. I would also use it to consolidate all our media. Then I'd use it to increase my studio's temperature another 2 or so degrees this winter. Damn, it gets hot in there with all the equipment. :P

Mex

[Tony Rylow]

I would like to use the backup tools to back up the multiple pc's on my home network.

[entropy1980]

I'd use to stream to my TivoHD and backup all the various computers in the house :)

[RiverRunsByIt]

I would use it to backup my three computers at home and stream music/video to my xbox 360. Would also use it to centralize a lot of the files that we have on our main PC.

[stevehiner]

I'd use it to store backups of the 16GB in pictures of my kids as well as my modest music collection and as a long-term dumping ground for all those shows I recorded in BeyondTV that I eventually plan to turn into DVDs.

[Iglesiab]

I would use it to centralize all of my media files, right now they are scatter over 2 external disks in different physical locations, my dekstop and my laptop.

thanks

[Jason Dunn]

Ok, contest closed, no more new entries....the winner will be drawn and announced...right after I go get some lunch. I'm SO hungry! :lol:

[wiangube]

I recently bought a Western Digital My Book Essential Edition 80GB USB from here:

http://www.compuplus.com/s-subcat-STORAGE~.html

and would like to set up a home network so all my computers be able to share their files in it.