With Windows Homer Server, Microsoft aims to deliver an easy consumer experience built on top of the Windows operating system, automatic multi-PC backup and restore and anywhere access. Nothing more, nothing less. But these are just the core capabilities associated with the first version of Windows Home Server.

"The common theme for these are reflected in our mission for v1: ...helping families with multiple PCs connect their digital experiences, providing a familiar and reliable way to store, access, share and automatically protect what is most important," revealed a member of the Windows Home Server team.

PC & Network Management, Home Network Infrastructure, Storage, Data Protection, Publishing & Sharing, Anywhere Access, Communications, Entertainment, Family Applications, 3rd Party Platform and Enthusiast Playground are the 11 main scenarios identified by the Redmond Company for Windows Home Server. Additionally, Microsoft identified from 10 to 20 end-to-end scenarios for each initial area. In the end, the Redmond Company went through the process of scraping a large volume of the several hundred possible scenarios.

"We spent about 6 months in this process, going from several hundred scenarios (a 360° view) to a list of a few dozen scenarios (a 30° view). To do this we decided to completely ignore whole scenario areas and hundreds of scenarios," added the WHS member.

This is how the Windows Home Server team managed to explain the "Why Not?" question in relation to all potential features for the product that failed to make the cut. When Microsoft finally began formulating the final product plan, they went even lower than 30° to 15°.