It started out with a bang. During the beta testing I was excited by the prospect that home users could take advantage of a home server that would automatically backup ALL the computers on a network. The software was simple to use and held great promise. But than the problems started to surface. People started to report file corruption issues. The folks at the Home Server unit of Microsoft took on the problem, but it took so many updates and attempts at fixes that some of us gave up on the software.

So is the Channel ready to embrace Windows Home Server? According to this article, everyone is waiting for Microsoft to start advertising the operating system and embark on a media blitz.

Susan Bradley, a Small Business Specialist partner in Fresno, Calif., describes Home Server as a “strong” product, but says she’s “honestly concerned” about the amount of marketing Microsoft has devoted to the product thus far.

For example, in a recent visit to the Innoventions Dream Home, an exhibit in the Anaheim, Calif.-based theme park Tomorrowland that includesHP (NYSE: HPQ)’s Media SmartServer (which runs on Home Server), Bradley was surprised by the distinct lack of Home Server branding.

“I knew that there was a Windows Home Server featured in the exhibit, but unless you know what the [HP Media SmartServer] looks like, you’d never know that there was a Home Server there, or that Microsoft was a key player,” said Bradley. 

Other partners aren’t sure if Microsoft will ever be able to create demand for the Home Server segment, simply because most home users’ needs can be met by solutions that are less expensive but still meet the majority of users’ needs

“I could see competitors like Linksys beating Windows Home Server by releasing a router with a 500 gigabyte hard drive that’s managed from a Web browser,” he said. 

 There you have it. Opinions from Channel partners that reflect a lack of confidence in whether consumers will even want to use Windows Home Server. I believe what is disappointing is that it took a very long time for a Power Pack to be introduced and some doubt lingers that the bugs are completely ironed out.

I personally dumped the software and went back to backing up my systems manually. But what do you think?

Comments welcome.

Source.