[craig223]

MS has a scaled down and automated server in Beta 2 now.  Here is a link to an article on it: http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2095467,00.asp

This looks like the future of music, video, photo and file storage for the home network.  Olive and Slim Devices should be able to use this thing as a base for their future software storage.  Will the APPLE TV play with it though?

[gitarretyp]

I skimmed the article, and it looks like most of the features this purports have been easy to setup in a home linux environment for many years. The only hard part is communication with proprietary devices like xboxs for which certain software manufactures don't want you to have easy access unless you buy their software.

[craig223]

I don't think this thing will be better for anyone who knows what they are doing with Linux.  Linux is no doubt a better server platform, but most people do not want to learn how to do setup or maintenance.  MS is dumbing this thing down to the toaster level.  A "plug n play" server.  That's why it will be successful.  My biggest fear of such a device is that it will become an easy target for hackers since its users will not really know how to administer or protect a server.  It probably will not work with a Wii or PS3 either.

[gitarretyp]

I agree, the MS solution is for those that are computer illiterate and don't have the time to learn to setup a normal server. I was only pointing out that there's nothing new or exciting about what they're offering.

In actuality, most of the modern linux distros are pretty easy to install and administer. You can setup a simple LAN server with very minimal knowledge of linux. Also, you don't need to run linux of the non-server computers.

[Levi]

I agree, this can be a good thing for computer savy home user.  I am sure it will be packed with "wizards" so it is friendlier and easy to setup.