We Got Served

So, the beta is over - Windows Home Server has been released to manufacturing!

Over the past few months, the development team at Microsoft have been working hard to add the final polish to the OS and fix all of the bugs you’ve sent in, and as of Friday, version 1 is now complete.

French, German and Spanish localisation work should shortly be completed and the software is now in the process of being issued to OEM hardware partners, who will be installing it on thousands of new computers, ready for release in the Autumn. A 120 day evaluation version, and the long-awaited system builder SKU will also be released over the coming months.

Charlie Kindel, Windows Home Server GM praised the work of the team and the community in a toast at the ship party, last Friday:

“It started with a vision that an always available device on the home network was an essential ingredient of a Microsoft platform for the home. At first there was only one of us, then three, then five… We put together a plan for a plan and executed. The result was an ambitious, yet pragmatic product plan that would deliver real value to consumers. We formed a team of extremely passionate, diverse, and hard working people. Some will say we had great luck but we know the best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself. We had a spirit of getting it done, no matter what. We broke some rules but never any laws. A community of highly enthusiastic customers rose around us. We made them part of the development process and rewarded them and they amplified our efforts. We made some mistakes…and corrected them. We took a few risks…and they paid off. In April 2005 we said we’d ship V1 in the first half of 2007. It wasn’t always easy and it wasn’t always fun, but we said what we were going to do and then we did it. You know what they say…the fourth time’s a charm.† Congratulations and thanks for helping ship the coolest version of Windows ever: Windows Home Server.”

FWIW, I’d like to say a personal congratulations to Charlie and the team not only for reaching RTM, but also for running what has been one of the most open and enjoyable beta programmes I’ve been a part of in 4 years of Microsoft beta testing. The spirit and drive of the team was quickly embraced and reflected by a new community that sprung up around the product and the end result will be all the better for it. Well done to you all!

So, whilst the team in Redmond catch up on some ZZZZzzzs and begin the journey to V2, we’ll be keeping our focus on your add-ins and OEM activity, as the heat builds up towards launch in the Autumn.