HP drops Windows Home Server, kills off MediaSmart Server line

[jaw04005]

HP announced today that they are killing off their MediaSmart Server effective at the end of this year. The MediaSmart Server line was based on Microsoft's Windows Home Server, but included third-party utilities to make it compatible with Apple's Time Machine, act as an iTunes server and transcode media files to be compatible with iOS devices using HP's MediaSmart iPhone application.

According to some reports, they've already moved their MediaSmart team to WebOS.

http://www.wegotserved.com/2010/12/01/hp-pulls-windows-home-server-market-leaves-vail-cold/

HP also announced a retail partnership with Drobo to market their storage devices to small businesses.

Microsoft announced last week that they are dropping the "Drive Extender" technology from the next version of Windows Home Server code named Vail. Drive Extender was a RAID alternative that allowed you to pool together multiple hard drives (a la Drobo).

http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/24/windows-home-server-vail-drops-drive-extender-support-ms-sugg/

 

[Silencio]

Innnnnnnteresting. Seemed like a lot of reviewers really liked the HP MediaSmart server. Wonder if, in the end, they just didn't sell. Or perhaps this is another small step in HP's quest to decouple themselves from Microsoft a bit more.

In the end, Drobo just makes a better product than Microsoft and HP rightly sees WebOS as being more important to them than SOHO network storage.

 

[balamw]

Wonder if, in the end, they just didn't sell.

This.

I like my EX490, but have been having some performance trouble with it recently.

Given this announcement and the changes to Vail. I have been seriously considering Synology or Drobo for my next NAS.

If anyone does want to get one, Costco has a good deal on a 2TB EX490 for $399.

B

 

[BornAgainMac]

I wish the Mac Mini Server included a drive extender to make 4 2-TB drives look like 1 big 8 TB drive. I didn't know about the drive extender technology from Microsoft.

 

[maflynn]

I think the home server market is a solution in search of a problem. I just don't seen many consumers wanting/needing a home server.

non technical or barely technical consumers won't get one and fairly/highly technical folks will probably build their own server solution.

 

[jaw04005]

I think the home server market is a solution in search of a problem. I just don't seen many consumers wanting/needing a home server.

Yes, and these are the same consumers that blame everyone but themselves when their computer crashes and they don't have a single backup.

WHS was a great enthusiast platform. I love my EX470. However, it wasn't simple or necessary enough for the masses.

 

[balamw]

WHS was a great enthusiast platform. I love my EX470. However, it wasn't simple or necessary enough for the masses.

Which is where Time Capsule shines, but it remains too expensive and inflexible for enthusiasts. WHS was that nice middle ground Apple always ignores.

If Apple would just make Time Capsule into an iTunes server and faster generic NAS I'd go back to it in a heartbeat.

As i stands I'm seriously considering throwing ubuntu on my EX490 sometime next year.

B

 

[Nermal]

This news doesn't surprise me. With Drive Extender disappearing from WHS 2, there is now - in my opinion - little reason to use that platform instead of cheaper alternatives. HP appears to agree.

 

[mikepro]

Sad news, as I LOVE my HP MediaSmart server.

I think Microsoft will relent and put back the DE technology, or it's equivalent. Otherwise, it would be sucky.

That Costco deal is awesome! If my wife wouldn't kill me, I'd buy one in a heartbeat just to have a spare WHS in case mine ever dies!