Robert Scoble: "The problem with the Home Server is going to be marketing."
Although I agree that good marketing can go a long way to provide a message of value to consumers, I think part of the reason that geeks have stopped talking about the forthcoming Home Server--at least for me--is that at a gut level I assume that for the value returned it's going to require too much work to set up and manage. Once the product hits the shelf, we'll get a chance to see the product in action and where its value is. Until then, I'm skeptical.
Here's partially why I'm waiting to see the product in action first: The focus on the term "server" itself. Is that what people really want? A server? I don't think so. People want to be able to back up their stuff. And even if they have a server, do I really want my primary backup of all my photos in the whole world to be in the same house with all my originals? What if there's a fire? A flood? Doesn't a remote backup make more sense? A great photo (or music) backup solution would address have this at the top of its message.
Backing up images of everyone's PCs might not be a bad thing, however, again we'll have to see how this works out in practice. Is it effortless to set up? I wonder. The easier it is to use, the more likely people will use it. A remote solution may be just as good here--or even better.
There's also the issue of cost. Which type of services will be cheaper for consumers to use? A DIY home server or a hosted solution? If people were already paying for a backup solution, then Home Server might be worthwhile from a cost standpoint. However, since most people don't backup anything as it is, Home Server is competing against something that most people don't pay for. And if Google, or whomever, offers free, hosted backup solutions, this isn't going to favor Home Server, either. This equation changes, though, the more hosted services cost and are difficult to set up or manage.
Then there's the whole issue of security. This box has to work perfectly. And I mean perfectly. A handful of hacked boxes and its credibility is going to fade fast. This means it probably shouldn't run third-party software or scripts; you don't want any holes. (I'm not sure if Microsoft was going to allow for this or not.)
Again, I look forward to seeing one of these boxes in action. There's definitely a need for better backup and shared access of data.



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