I don't know if the OEM conditions will be as strict as with Vista. I guess one will be able to buy WHS with a HDD or a cable or mouse even from some online retailers.

moved from news / rippinchikkin

(Since this seems to be ongoing, this looks like a better home.)

It appears this vender is taking orders already... in New Zeland
At least he has a Available date there too

Quote:

OEM Win Home Server 1pk Your Price: $253.00 (GST excl) Available: 15/8/2007 From Warehouse ID: W2 (Wellington) Update: Available: 17/8/2007 From Warehouse ID: W2 (Wellington) Product ID: CCQ-00015 Aquila ID: 4130700 Vendor: Microsoft Category: Systems Software Sub Category: Other Updated: 8/08/2007 Product Information : Microsoft OEM Windows Home Server Win32 (1 Pack) Warranty Information : The standard manufacturers warranty is available for this product.

*Link removed*

Note: Tuesday, August 7, 2007

1 New Zealand Dollar = 0.76037 US Dollar

Edit: When googling "CCQ-00015 " there are several sites w/ pricing.

HomeServer.com

Microsoft bought the "HomeServer.Com" domain a year or so ago. The transaction that involved 3 companies, 4 foreign languages and 3 currencies. It took awhile to complete, and it is a funny story that I like to tell in person. But that is not what this post is about ...

When we enabled the Dynamic DNS services for Windows Home Server in the CTP build, we used to 2 test domains (livenode.com and livenode2.com) where Windows Home Server beta testers could get a personalized domain name (e.g. SmithFamily.livenode.com) for remote access to their home server while away from home.

I have some great news to share with all of our early beta testers. If you registered a personalized domain name with either livenode.com or livenode2.com prior to this weekend (August 3, 2007), that domain name will get transferred over to HomeServer.com when you install the RTM (Release to Manufacturing) version of Windows Home Server. This was a one time transfer as a "THANKS" to all of our early testers.

We worked hard to make this happen. We know how important it can be to get your desired personalized domain name. We never could promise this, until we were 100% sure it would work. It works !! I just installed the RTM copy of the Windows Home Server software (one advantage to working on the team) and my domain name automatically showed up as ______.homeserver.com after I logged in with my Windows Live ID.

Any future domain names registered with either the Release Candidate (RC) build or the Windows Home Server 120-day Evaluation edition will be registered as livenode.com domains and will not be transferred over to HomeServer.com. All new domain names registered with the RTM version of Windows Home Server will be using HomeServer.com starting today.

Thanks again to all of the early beta testers!!! Your feedback through the Connect site, Community Forums and Newsgroup throughout the testing of Windows Home Server has been fantastic.
t.

Source: WHS Blog

Thanks for the update JD. I must say the pricing doesn't look too bad at around US$ 200.

Not sure when it will be available here though but I have my one AMD system tagged to run it on as a permanent feature

augie wrote:

Quote: Under Microsoft's current plan, it won't be selling Windows Home Server as a standalone software product. Instead, you need to purchase a full-blown server from one of Microsoft's previously mentioned hardware partners.

That is what it says on Microsoft's web site but Bill Gates said something a little different a few months ago.

Quote:

We'll also have a version of this Home Server SKU available to system builders, so people who put together custom systems even in quite limited volume, this software capability is something that they'll be able to load onto it.

Bill Gates: Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2007
May 15, 2007
http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/exec/billg/speeches/2007/05-15-2007WinHEC.mspx

Wayne in the WHS NG just posted:

Quote:

OK just collected it direct from the Suppliers : Heres whats in the Package. • Home Server DVD Product code etc • Recovery CD • Connector software CD • OEM Preinstallation Kit CD • Mountain of instructions - Booklet as per the download product information/instructions etc,Licence terms, as well as additional instructions for setting up / problems eg: storage Drivers adding driveres etc.

.