Following a release in Japan earlier this year, Sony are set to release the Sony Home Share VGF-HS1E here in Europe before Xmas.
The Home Share, which bears an uncanny similarity to the prototype Windows Home Server “Hockey Puck” system (as well as a number of Sony’s recent Media Center releases) comes equipeed with 2 500Gb SATA drives and provides backup and remote access services for computers on the network, just like a certain other home server platform we know and love.
Looks like backup is triggered via a button press rather than via automated scheduling, which is a weakness, but the Home Share is DLNA certified, meaning it can stream content to a wider range of devices than a standard Windows Home Server machine (althought the HP MediaSmart Server and the FSC Scaleo are now both DLNA compliant thanks to PVConnect).
It may not have what it takes to beat Windows Home Server, but it shows that Sony are interested in the home server market, and hardware-wise, it looks like a beautiful little unit that you could wipe and reinstall with a “proper” home server OS!
The Sony Home Share is yours for £499 (plus £100 for a copy of Windows Home Server :)) from Sony Style.
More Info: Sony
Source: eHome Upgrade
October 5th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Looks nice, but its a limited form factor and you have to pay for the software on top!? Trust Sony!
Wont be reccomending this one to friends and family.
RB
October 5th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
No, you don’t *have* to pay for the software - it comes with Windows Vista…. I would just put WHS on there