Microsoft has pulled a Windows Vista on its Windows Home Server. A series of unspecified bug fixes and feature enhancements will push back the launch of the first appliances by up to 4 months.

Consumers will still be able to get their hands on the software by late September, but HP has decided that it would rather wait for a future update before it starts shipping its MediaSmart Server.

The consumer availability spares Microsoft from the embarrassment of an official delay. But HP's refusal to put its logo on the first product says enough.

If your willing to wade through shoulder deep marketing BS in a Microsoft blog posting, you can also detect a flat-out admission of guilt:

31 Aug 2007

"We’ve identified a number of ways to make the product even better since the initial release, as with most Microsoft products, updates to Windows Home Server will be automatically available throughout the lifecycle of the product and the WHS team is working on an update that will be available in September. These updates will enhance the usability and improve the out-of-the-box experience of home server solutions. Additional updates will occur over the lifespan of the product as we receive feedback from the user community, our hardware partners and software partners. Microsoft’s current plan is to make this update available as part of the monthly Windows Updates process in September."

Translation: we know that the current product is horrible. But hey, when did Microsoft ever do a proper version one release that didn’t suffer from horrible bug and equally bad usability? It took us 10 years to get Windows to a version that didn't make you throw up in disgust (that was Windows 3.1, in case you were wondering), and still made billions of dollars. Why would Windows Home server be any different?

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