Microsoft at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas has unveiled the Windows Home Server. The device allows consumers to centrally store and share all their digital media including photos, home video and television recordings.

The appliance runs an adapted version of Windows Server 2003 and uses Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) technology for storage to provide high uptimes. Both Windows Server and RAID storage are typically deployed in enterprises rather than in consumer applications.

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates showed off the device during his CES opening keynote on Sunday. HP showed off its HP MediaSmart Server running the new Microsoft software. It is based on a reference design from chipmaker AMD. The first devices are scheduled to ship by the third quarter for this year and will cost $500 to $1,000.

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