Executive Summary:
Learn why Apple’s MobileMe isn’t recommended for Windows users—even those with iPhones—and why Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 is such a great deal. |
Apple MobileMe
Pros: Push email, contacts, and calendar
work great with iPhone
Cons: PC and web experiences are lackluster;
push technology eats at iPhone battery life;
expensive
Rating: 2 out of 5
Recommendation: I can’t recommend
Apple’s MobileMe service to any Windows user.
Apple’s attempt at “Exchange for the rest of
us” is buggy, incomplete, and painful to use,
especially on the PC. However, the iPhone user
experience is excellent despite battery-life
problems associated with push-based data
syncing. For now, even if you’ve bought the
iPhone, skip this service.
Contact: Apple • www.apple.com
Discussion: www.winsupersite.com/reviews/mobileme_01.asp
Windows Home Server
Power Pack 1
Pros: Free update adds major new functionality,
fixes bug
Cons: Still lacks Complete PC Backup and
Restore–style server backup
Rating: 5 out of 5
Recommendation: Windows Home
Server (WHS) Power Pack 1 (PP1) is a free
update to Microsoft’s home server that adds
x64 client compatibility, server backup (of file
shares, not the server state), and remote access
improvements, as well as other useful changes.
Microsoft fixed a slew of bugs too, including
the infamous data corruption bug that has
bedeviled WHS since last December. Did I mention
it’s free? Customers of HP’s popular WHSbased
MediaSmart Server get two add-ons
along with PP1: a McAfee-based server antivirus
tool and a media-sharing solution certified
by the Digital Living Network Alliance.
Contact: Microsoft • 800-426-9400 •
www.microsoft.com
Discussion: www.winsupersite.com/reviews/whs_pp1.asp
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