Windows Home Server hardware at WinHEC

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We've shown you our fanciful prototype designs like the "hockeypuck". We created this extremely small, extremely cool looking, and extremely round prototype as a demonstration of what is possible. 2 2.5" HDDs with that cool glow that indicates that your home network is healthy (or not).  No one is (yet!) signed up to build a Windows Home Server that looks like this, but based on the amazing response it has gotten, I'm sure it will happen.

You've seen HP's Windows Home Server, the HP MediaSmart Server. HP's done a great job creating a very well engineered, great looking, and quiet device. HP has shown this at a bunch of events (it was on display at WinHEC this week for example). The first thing almost everyone says is "Wow, it's a LOT smaller than it looks in pictures." Then they say "When can I buy one?".

At CES you saw prototypes from Inventec. Cutting edge industrial design and form factors from this original device manufacturer (ODM).

This week at WinHEC 2007 we got to see what Medion has been dreaming up (even though their prototype was in our booth, I can't find any online pictures right now...sorry).  We also got a peek at the first Windows Home Server focused mainboard design from Gigabyte; the "Churchill". I'm really excited about the prospects for this mini DTX form factor board that meets all of the Windows Home Server hardware requirements. It will be great to see all of the cool chassis designs that people come up for these puppies to fit into. 

Tomorrow morning I am presenting a session titled "Windows Home Server - Overview and Opportunities". The focus of this talk is to help the WinHEC audience see the opportunities for 3rd party innovation that are possible on Windows Home Server.  The room holds 120...given the amount of traffic the home server demo booth generated at this conference I'm a bit nervous that it will be standing room only.  I'll make sure we post a link to the slides once they are up somewhere.

Oh, and if you want to catch yesterday's keynote where BillG talks about Windows Home Server, and Steven Leonard gives a flawless demo check out this video (the home server part starts at about 37:15 in).

-cek