Home Servers

Server

Manufacturer

Web site

Availability

Pros

Price

Cons

Apple TV

Apple

apple.com/appletv

Now

1. Super Easy Setup

2. Really made to allow family or other small group (or office?, boss may not like productivity hit) concurrency of iTunes (up to 5 users) music, videos, movies

3. Wired and wireless networking out of the box

3. $mall Pricetag = $299 and up

1. No printer support (yet?),

 2. Hard drive could /should be bigger (maybe larger one via the USB port with a future Apple update?)

 3. Supports only digital or HDtv - must have HDMI or digital component (NOT analog component) inputs. If you have an older TV set, it will not work at all.

Linux Server

Custom integrator

(like WR Morris & Sons)

Now

1. Supports network printers

2. Can do custom file-sharing

3. Can be small or large, inexpensive or cutting edge

4. Can work with or without a TV or monitor. Can be remote computer-controlled.

5. Can be a web and/or mail server, VPN/firewall, etc.

6. Can be administered remotely by integrator (like WR Morris & Sons)

Price ~ $600 and up

1. Is not normal user-configurable

2. Does not support all makes and models of printers

3. Does not support iTunes in its native form (can be file server for a semblance)

Windows Home Server

Manufacturers like HP, Dell

and Custom integrators

(like WR Morris & Sons)

Software by Microsoft

Now

1. Supports network printers

2. File-sharing

3. Monitor or remote computer control

4. Supposed to be easy to use (hopefully, easier than Vista)

5. Can be administered remotely by integrator (like WR Morris & Sons)

Price ~ $560 and up

1. Won’t support iTunes out of the box

2. High price tag

3. Might be as susceptible to viruses and spyware as other Windows boxes

4. Not easy for normal users to setup