Looks like HP have been politely invited to take another look at the software they’ll be bundling with Windows Home Server in their new MediaSmart servers.
A report on SmallNetBuilder is stating that HP have delayed releasing the server until the “holiday period” to make their software more “user-friendly” to general consumers. Reading between the lines, my hunch is that this has been at Microsoft’s request, as it’s very late in the day to pull a release without good reason. The units were slated to ship from September 15th.
The MediaSmart server ships with Windows Home Server as it’s core operating system, but in usual OEM style, HP have decided to include a bunch of bloatware add-ins on top of what has been celebrated as a very simple, and easy to use UI – which, given this is a server we’re talking about here, is no mean feat.
Through the development cycle, MS have been very focused on creating a safe and simple user environment for the general consumer (i.e not you – your mum and dad) hiding away most of the core server functionality from the Windows Home Server Console. Whether the issue is with HP’s previously announced Photo Webshare software, or other unannounced bundled software, we’ll probably never know. But the HP MediaSmart Server has been the pin-up model of the WHS scene to date with a joint MS/HP announcement at CES in January this year, and so both partners will want to ensure that this debut release hits the spot.
Amazon have more details on the two HP MediaSmart models, EX470
In the meantime, it’s looking increasingly like Tranquil PC and Fujitsu-Siemens will be out of the gates first with WHS hardware here in Europe.
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