Windows Home Server automatically backs up home PCs and provides a central location for storing a familys photographs, music, videos and documents. Using a personalized Windows Live Internet address, people will be able to remotely access digital content on Windows Home Server when they are away from home.

Source: A quick look back at Microsoft’s Windows Home Server and its official children’s book

This would have certainly been a different future. Still possible for anyone who really wants it, but I don’t see any open-source projects to recreate this experience directly so… that’s telling?