Apple got it right on this one.

You don’t need a dedicated server for backups and ubiquitous data throughout the house.  You just need a network (802.11n) and service discoverability (ZeroConf).  The client devices, whether they be PCs, gaming devices, phones or DVRs, discover the available resources and have the smarts to handle their own syncing and backup needs.

Microsoft, on the other hand, approaches the home the same way they approach the enterprise, putting IT above all else.

I just picked up an Apple Airport Extreme and a new NewerTech USB/Firewire external hard disk. What a great combination for a Mac server and backup system. The external hard drive attaches to the Airport Extreme via USB and shows up via Bonjour. I set up separate directories for all the Macs in our house and we wirelessly backup all Home directory content. This is sooooooo easy to do.

Four stars to Apple for a simple, elegant solution to a growing problem-- backups. I look for OS X Leopard to have some way in TimeMachine to backup via Airport Extreme.

Just the term “Home Server” probably scares people to death. Unless you’re a Linux Geek.