"Up until now, one of the main drawbacks to the upcoming Windows Home Server was that the product was only going to be available on select, prebuilt systems from Integrated System Vendors (ISVs). Microsoft has apparently changed its mind on this score—one of the major announcements in Gates' keynote address at WINHEC today is the news that WHS will be directly available as an OEM product. "Digital devices and digital media are now an essential part of so many aspects of our lives, and their importance continues to grow," said Microsoft chairman Bill Gates at WINHEC. "With Windows Home Server, we're launching a new category of consumer products that will make it much easier for people to connect to their digital content and share experiences with friends and family no matter where they are.""I knew this was going to happen, but it's nice to see it official. If you've got an older computer just sitting around doing nothing, spend $100 USD, buy yourself a 400 GB hard drive, and get ready to use one of the nicest backup systems I've ever seen - oh, and some great media sharing capabilities to boot.