Being the typical geeky household, we have 3 desktop computers and 2 laptops that are used a lot. The 2 desktops are hardwired to the network, 1 is not currently on the network, 2 laptops are wireless, 3 have XP, 1 has Windows 2000 Pro and 1 has Ubuntu Linux, not on the network (yet). The Windows 2000 machine has a large drive in it, so it serves as our file server(by the way, it’s affectionately been named PeaceOut, I don’t know how that came about, it just is), the other desktop serves as our print server, for 2 out of our 3 printers. Today I’m going to buy some CAT5 to run to a switch in a different room to network the linux box. I’m about ready to buy myself a new laptop(pricing and shopping right now), then one of my kids will get to use my current laptop and I’ll take PeaceOut back (and also network it in the other room).
Why would I take PeaceOut back? Well, today I am coming clean. I have a secret love of beta testing. I’ve beta tested several versions of Quicken, QuickBooks and Windows XP and if I see a sign up for beta testing software, I’m all over it. I signed up for TurboTax beta test last year but was not invited. (their loss!)
I first heard of the Windows Home Server Beta a few weeks ago, so naturally, I was all over it. Partly, for being beta and mainly because I saw the potential to benefit my family. My wife and I work away from home often and sometimes need to access files from home and currently, we can do this, but we have to jump through some hoops to do it. Also, I always encourage everyone to backup their data, it’s easily lost, but do I do it? Well, that’s kind of what PeaceOut is for but we still are not intentionally backing up.
PC Magazine had this to say about Windows Home Server Beta:
BOTTOM LINE:
If this beta release is any indication, Microsoft Home Server will give users with little tech knowledge the ability to easily network their home computing environment and make their data available from anywhere—on the network or off.PROS:
Simple to set up, run. Minimal hardware requirements. Makes home networking a breeze. Allows remote data access. Automatic backups.CONS:
The usual beta bugs
By the way, from the Windows Home Server Beta site:
While the beta program is currently invite-only, we are granting you permission to publicly disclose and discuss Windows Home Server Beta 2.
So, you can bet I’ll be sharing my experience. I started the nearly 2gb download this morning before I left and it should be finishing about now.
Check out the Windows Home Server blog.
Has anyone else gotten in on this beta? Would you benefit from this kind of thing?
Have you tried Hamachi for remote file access? I use it every day for files and RDP/VNC. It’s fab.
I’ll be interested to see what you turn up from Windows Home Server. When I first heard about this product, I was quite intrigued.
Yes I use hamachi currently, but I have issues with it…….mainly user issues. I’ve got too much going on on that machine, my daughter uses it and hamachi is not up if the correct user is not signed in. when I make sure it’s up before I leave, it’s great, like I say, it’s me, not hamachi. But I’m really looking forward to WHS
I’ve got the 2 gb download sitting on my desktop just teasing me to find the time to install and test it. Interested to hear what you think.