Talking Microsoft’s Home Server on banks of the Rhein

13: OK, now I see it’s called “Windows Home Server,” but, let me ask you, how many people will call this “Microsoft Home Server?” I bet a large percentage will. I sure did, until you corrected me.

@26. Hey! Don’t get mad at me for not being able to figure out such a simple problem. I was simply surprised, given the amount of international travel you do, that this was the first time you ran across this issue.

macbeach, that sucks if companies have to cater go Google’s algorithms when naming products. Seems that Google’s algorithms should adapt to the product names than the other way around. This is the tail wagging the dog. Google is used to search for products, and if Google isn’t up to the challenge without companies coming up with idiotic names like you suggested, then other search engines will do.

Robert, this blog entry is the *first* time I’ve heard anyone refer to Windows Home Server as Microsoft Home Server. You screwed up the name, not anyone else. So what do you suggest, that Microsoft rename it as “Microsoft Home Server” now? “Windows Home Server” is already generating the correct hits. Changing it to “Microsoft Home Server” would just changes the hits to that phrase rather than “Windows Home Server”. It makes no difference.

Again, I find it wrong that companies have to cater to Google’s algorithms. I know you once said, “If it doesn’t show up on Google, then it doesn’t exist.” That’s BS.

Robert, this blog entry is the *first* time I’ve heard anyone refer to Windows Home Server as Microsoft Home Server. You screwed up the name, not anyone else. So what do you suggest, that Microsoft rename it as “Microsoft Home Server” now? “Windows Home Server” is already generating the correct hits. Changing it to “Microsoft Home Server” would just changes the hits to that phrase rather than “Windows Home Server”. It makes no difference.

Again, I find it wrong that companies have to cater to Google’s algorithms. I know you once said, “If it doesn’t show up on Google, then it doesn’t exist.” That’s BS.

Robert, it’s nice that you finally told LayZ wehere to get off. Now, do the same for John C Welch. :p

Robert,

Let me ask you something. You’re a tech blog and a good one. I’m a long time reader, a couple of years now.

Why don’t you ever cover free/libre software like GNU/Linux? Are you opposed to free (as in freedom) software like 99% of current and former MS employees? I never see anything about free software, ever.

It’s your blog, but tech is tech. I know you like to cover things that are quote “innovative”, but have you ever sat down with yourself and considered the freedom aspect of software?

Looking forward to your response.

Re: the gods at 33…Truckers, that was the best fucking spam EVER. It made me want to go find even MORE porn than before! SWEET

Colby, why are you trying to get Robert to do your dirty work for you. You have something to say to me, by all means, say it. I ain’t hidin’.

Peter, Robert’s about as techie as a myna bird, only less discriminating. He’s a tech enthusiast and as a result, is not really going to be the person to get into Linux. He’s handy around the house when you need your HD TV hooked up, (just make sure to give him a towel and a cigarette afterwards, and have some Windex on hand. He gets a tad too excited about such things), but Robert and Linux?

Only if you play “Yakety Sax” in the background.

@35 John,

I hear you. One of the things about Robert is that he evaluates TOO MUCH stuff and never really takes the time to stick with any one or three cool software programs. Like most people, he’s enamored with online tools and services, but a failure to check out GNU/Linux as a “techie” is a major failing in my book.

Yes, yes, I know… I’m a free software bigot, but I used to not be. I used to believe like most people that it didn’t matter what license my software I use was released under, but now that I’ve actually been using GNU/Linux for 9 years, I understand that free as in freedom is something I never again want to give up.

Most people never consider the freedom aspect of their software, the evil DRM onboard, etc. If people really understood what they were losing, they’d be appalled. It’s illegal for you (metaphorically) to share a copy of Windows with your friends. It’s illegal for you to reverse engineer the source code to see if there is anything untowards in the code (I’m convinced there is). The fact that the NSA assisted with the security in Windows is scary. Yes, the NSA helped with SELinux, but the source is open for me to check it. The beauty of free software is that there is nothing hidden.

Think about it. A society that cannot share is a society doomed to fail. Proprietary software licenses are evil. They force people to NOT share because of the threat of legal proceedings. I could never subject myself to this. I feel that software should be free as in freedom.

Just my dos pesos.

I almost forgot…

People complain that there is no innovation in free software and in GNU/Linux. This is somwhat true. I freely admit this. However, what people are not really up on is simply the freedom aspect. Free software is about freedom first, innovation second.

Ask yourself this: would you rather drive a 10-year-old car and be able to go anywhere, or would you rather drive a brand new, shiny car with all the bells and whistles, but only be able to stay in your own neighborhood. The latter is proprietary software.

People say it doesn’t matter. OK. Copy your Mac OS X disk and put it up on the Internet as an .iso, and see how fast it takes Apple to launch a lawyer attack on you and your Web hosting provider.

Reverse engineer the code to Aqua and put it on the net. Same result.

Freedom should ALWAYS be first, at the expense of innovation and anything else.

http://www.google.us will stick with English. I had the same problem when I started using Tor and was proxying through foreign IP’s, google was inferring based on where the ip was coming from.

Oh dear god, a Stallmanite…

Ask yourself this: would you rather drive a 10-year-old car and be able to go anywhere, or would you rather drive a brand new, shiny car with all the bells and whistles, but only be able to stay in your own neighborhood. The latter is proprietary software.

Bullshit. That’s the worst analogy ever. For one, you’re comparing hardware to software. Two, cars are as proprietary as hell in some ways, completely non-proprietary in others. Tires are standard, engine mounts are not. What is it with Stallmanites and comparisons? Why do they suck so bad? Why do they make the baby jesus cry?

People say it doesn’t matter. OK. Copy your Mac OS X disk and put it up on the Internet as an .iso, and see how fast it takes Apple to launch a lawyer attack on you and your Web hosting provider.

BWAAHAAH…Go violate the GPL and see how long you get away with it. I wonder what the FSF will use to defend the GPL..why, they’ll use LAWYERS. To defend their INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Because it’s OKAY for THEM to do it, just no one else. Is there a way to create a recursive acronym for “The FSF: Defending Hypocrisy and Not Bathing for thirty years”? ‘Cause it would rule if there was.

Reverse engineer the code to Aqua and put it on the net. Same result.Freedom should ALWAYS be first, at the expense of innovation and anything else

Wow…I’m 40 years old. I did aircraft maintenance in the USAF. I’ve been in IT for around twenty years. I’ve done user support.

So when I say that may very well be the stupidest fucking thing I’ve ever read in my life, I have some serious qualifications to make that judgement.

Most people never consider the freedom aspect of their software, the evil DRM onboard, etc. If people really understood what they were losing, they’d be appalled. It’s illegal for you (metaphorically) to share a copy of Windows with your friends.

If by share you mean “let someone borrow your computer” then no, not at all. If by share you mean “make infinite copies for the entire internet”, then yes. Funny how you use the word “share” when you mean “make infinite copies”. But then, the Stallmanite crowd are just as adept as Microsoft at spinmeistering. Other side of the coin petey.

Free software is about freedom first, innovation second.

Ah, that would explain the craptacular UIs, and ignorant justification for every single problem. Saves actually fixing them. “There’s a bug”

“OMGFREEEEDOM!!!”

“right, buying a mac/wintel”

Most people never consider the freedom aspect of their software, the evil DRM onboard, etc.

DRM is a tool, it is neither good nor bad. Take my shoe, it’s a size 12. When I’m walking, it’s a good tool. When I’m putting it up your ass, metaphorically, it’s a GREAT tool. But to you, it’s a bad one.

DRM has its place. Esp. for things like medical records. No, I don’t want people just frolicking through my medical records. By the way, encryption? that’s a kind of DRM. Yeah. I know you never thought about it that way. But then, religious fanbois don’t think much.

Proprietary software licenses are evil. They force people to NOT share because of the threat of legal proceedings. I could never subject myself to this. I feel that software should be free as in freedom

I believe that logic should be circular, as in circles!

Robert: Got your message about you being in town for tech fest. I should be around. Drop me a line and I’ll be happy to give you a dog & pony show of my group and Windows Home Server.

OMG Martinsbrau is the greatest place ever – down the end of that little alley. I’ve been there on business and found that place while strolling around. Beer brewed in house, smokey room of communal tables, and a plate with 3 types of wurst. Goodnight.

I also hear the old bartender over at The Hotel Columbi is a must visit character of Freiburg. Have a good time!

29: “macbeach, that sucks if companies have to cater go Google’s algorithms when naming products. Seems that Google’s algorithms should adapt to the product names than the other way around. ”

I obviously didn’t express myself well, and my example was bad. My point was that no algorithm can get beyond the use of common, in fact VERY common words in a search string. In fact, if the product were named “Microsoft Home Server” as Robert wrongly stated, it would have a better chance of showing up at the top of the search results than would “Windows Home Server”. Don’t you remember, the word “windows” used to refer to an architectural element in buildings, even in, for example, your “home”? You wouldn’t want to purge Google’s database of all such references to sell a software product would you? That would in fact be MANUAL intervention into the search. (I wouldn’t be surprised if there were actually a lot of that going on too).

Get my point? In the name “Windows Home Server” you are talking about three very common words that have technical uses, but also have very common, in fact MORE common non-technical counterparts. The term “Microsoft” on the other hand, or even a word like “software”, or “LAN”, etc. could be used to automatically distinguish between this products name and other random paragraphs that might contain those three words in some totally different context. The only (other than Google intervention) way that this product would (and does) show up at the top of the Google search at all, is the fact that search engines give preference to the words appearing adjacent to one another and in the same order specified (you can put your search string in quotes to nail this down even further, particularly when there are two or more groups of words you are searching for). neither the word “palm” or “pilot” alone might get me a good selection of references to 90′s vintage personal organizers, but “Palm Pilot” certainly would. On the other hand, “N800″ already does a pretty good job of getting me to a more modern device without a lot of false hits.

Peter: I’ve had my hands on Linux many times. I just don’t like it. It isn’t as good as OSX or Windows Vista and, I study a LOT what people are using and they aren’t using Linux in any serious numbers as a desktop operating system. They ARE using it on servers (Google runs on it, for instance) but that isn’t nearly as interesting to talk about for me as, say, Apple’s new iPhone.

> The problem with the Home Server is going to be
> marketing. Already mentions of it have totally
> died off.

I think the only “problem” with the Home Server is that it’s not available in the shops NOW. This is not a product that needs huge hype *before* release. If somebody tells me about a toaster that will be really cool – in a few months, this will not get me excited (unlike let’s say a mention of managed code for WPF/E).
When I told my wife about Home Server, she said “oh, that sounds like something that solves a couple of my problems. Will you buy it next week?”. When I answered that it’s not avaiable yet, that was the end of the conversation, period.
It’s easy: Does X solve problem Y? Yes? Fine. Can I get it? No? Don’t steal my time.

RWeigelt: good point. But that didn’t stop Steve Jobs this year, no?

Macbeach: agreed. Any marketer that doesn’t consider how people use search engines when naming its products is going to be at a disadvantage.

Dude, that screenshot is whacked. Of course you can’t find it there because it’s on the bottom of the page. You do know how to use scroll bars don’t you?

Still, I agree that the language change is annoying. I’d think Google of all companies would monitor how many people from certain ips switch languages and change the default pages they set up based on that (for those French speakers getting German). Ditto using cookies to keep the traveler like yourself on the right page.

Anyway, now you know. I am somewhat surprised you didn’t earlier though considering you travel so much and write a tech column.

John C. Welch @ 38 and 40,
I will have to agree with you on these points.
Damnit

Guy

Guy, I’m really evil that way. It’s part of my master plot to make everyone but me question their sanity, so that I am eventually KING OF THE WORLD!!!!

crap…I shouldn’t have said that in my “out loud” voice.

John, it’s a good thing that Robert and his commenters give you that platform to accomplish your goals.
As far as questioning your sanity, everybody knows your fruit-loops

Guy

Peter @ 35 and 36
It appears that the world needs to give software away because it is a right that every human being deserves. The funny thing is that like the phone, TV, computers, and every other type of technology, it is not a right but a privliage to those that can afford it. yes, I know that sounds snobby, but it’s a fact that you have to buy the hardware and software in order to utilize this stuff. The fact that Mr. Bill Gates and Mr Steve Jobs built empires with a fan base does mean that they are evil and should give back all of that money, it just means that they came up with a good idea that a bunch of people decided they needed.
Open source, free software is great, I use some of it myself, however when I work (I am a control engineer) I have to use windows as it is what is supported by the work enviorment that I am in.
Your arguments about the Freedom of software and the oppression of DRM is evil is not well founded. I dislike DRM, but I do not blame anybody for protecting their products, I do disagree with my inability to control how I use that product once I have bought it, but this is an evil world that requires rules and regulations.

Hopefully, when John C. Welch takes over all of this will be moot and we will have the ability to do whatever we want to.

Guy