|
|
|
|
Holistic Guidance - HP EX470 MediaSmart Home Server (AMD Live, Windows Home Server, 500 GB Hard Drive)
|
List Price: $708.00
Our Price: $599.99
Your Save: $ 108.01 ( 15% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard
|
Average Customer Rating:  
|
|
Binding: Electronics
Brand: Hewlett-Packard
EAN: 0883585222636
Feature: Conveniently centralize your files and access them from an internet-connected computer
Hard Disk Size: 500
Label: Hewlett Packard
Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard
Model: EX470
Publisher: Hewlett Packard
Special Features: nv:Operating Systems^Microsoft® Windows® Home Server|Form Factor^Microtower|Processor Brand^AMD|Processor Class^Sempron|Processor Speed^1.80GHz|Memory Type^DDR2|Total Memory^512 MB|Hard Drive Interface^SATA|Communications Description^Integrated LAN|Interface Type^RJ-45|Data Transfer Rate^1000 Mbps|Data Transfer Rate^100 Mbps|Data Transfer Rate^10 Mbps
Studio: Hewlett Packard
|
|
|
Features
|
Conveniently centralize your files and access them from an internet-connected computer
500 GB hard drive, expands via 4 hard drive bays
Automatically backup and protect the digital memories on your home PCs running Windows XP and later operating systems
Stream photos, music and videos to PCs on your network or to your TV or stereo system
Powered by Microsoft Windows Home Server software and 1.8 GHz, 64-bit AMD Sempron processor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Editorial Reviews:
|
|
Maximize the power and potential of your home network with the HP EX470 MediaSmart Server, which enables you to conveniently centralize your files and access them from multiple PCs in your home. Based on AMD Live processing power, the MediaSmart Server enables you to back up your home's PCs as well as share and enjoy digital music, home videos and photos from any computer or entertainment system on a home network. The server also has the expandability to grow with your family's changing needs. 
The stylish HP MediaSmart Server easily fits into your living room or office decor. | 
Its small size will fit on top of even the most crowded desk, and it offers wireless access when connected to a Wi-Fi router (via the Gigabit Ethernet port). | This sleek, streamlined micro-tower design is perfect for use in the home office or the living room, and its perforated steel exterior panels provide cool, quiet operation. The EX470 MediaSmart Server features a 500 GB internal hard drive (SATA, 7200 RPM), 512 MB of installed DDR2 RAM, four hard drive bays for additional expansion using off-the-shelf SATA I or II hard drives, a Gigabit Ethernet port for ultra-fast networking (and connection to a wireless router), four USB 2.0 ports (1 on the front, 3 on the back) for connecting to additional hard drives, and an and an eSATA port for high-speed data transfer to external storage devices--up to 6 times faster than existing solutions. It's quick and easy to set up your HP MediaSmart Server and create up to 10 user accounts using the Microsoft Windows Home Server software. You can also open a predefined Guest account for additional file sharing capabilities. The HP MediaSmart Server also lets you set up your own secure personal web address to allow file access by remote users. Easily Enhance Your Network
Expand your storage possibilities with the MediaServer's four hard drive bays. | Every PC on your network will have the Control Center software, giving users the ability to browse shared folders on the HP MediaSmart Server, add photos to the HP Photo Webshare and perform an immediate backup of their computer. Set the access privileges for each user at the shared-folder level to allow Read/Write, Read Only or No Access. You also control the remote access privilege for each user. Approved users will then be able to remotely access shared files and even applications on their home PC through a secure connection from any Internet-connected PC. 
AMD LIVE Smarter Digital Entertainment | Share Your Media
Use included HP Photo Webshare software to easily and securely share photos stored on your HP MediaSmart Server with select friends and family. A quick link to Snapfish allows easy photo printing. Enjoy digital music, photos, video and files from any networked PC. Stream content directly to your home entertainment center using a digital media adapter (DMA). The DMA device accesses the media files and coordinates the streaming process between the HP MediaSmart Server and your entertainment device. Protect Your Data
Keep your PC files safe with automatic backup for multiple PCs. You can customize the frequency of backups and how many backups are stored. Files accidentally deleted can be easily found on the backup image and copied to your PC. In the event of hard drive failure, the included HP PC Restore disc is all you need to return your PC and all your data to their original condition. Other Features
- Centralize your iTunes music libraries and playlists on the server for playback to any PC or notebook running iTunes on your home network.
- Incremental backups: After initial backup, only changes are backed up.
- Efficient single copy backup: A single copy of each file is backed up, no matter how many computers that files resides on in your home network.
- Add an internal or external hard drive to the HP MediaSmart Server, indicate that you want to add the disk in the Windows Home Server Console, and the HP MediaSmart Server storage grows. No need to power down the unit or manage drive letters for multiple hard drives.
- Remote access compatibility: Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Media Center Edition 2004 or higher, or Windows Vista Ultimate or higher
- File sharing compatibility: Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows XP Home or Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 Professional SP4, Mac, OS X, Linux.
- Backup compatibility: Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows XP
What's in the Box
HP MediaSmart Server, power cord, Ethernet cable, software installation disc, PC restore disc, server recovery disc, Quick Start and HP support guides. Important: The HP MediaSmart Server is not a stand-alone computer. You connect it to your networked computer system. No monitor is needed because its user interface is accessed from another computer.
|
|
|
Spotlight customer reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: Outstanding server and backup solution.
Comment: I purchased the EX470 primarily as a server for music and video. But, in the last two weeks I had the need to restore a laptop that would no longer boot up due to a damaged boot sector. And, I wanted to restore a program on a desktop computer that had ceased functioning even after reloading it. In both cases the EX470 worked flawlessly. The laptop was completely restored and is working without any errors. The desktop software was restored to its operating environment prior to the software failure. Even Microsoft's Restore couldn't fix what the EX470's PC Restorer was able to do.
By the way, the music and video serving is meeting and exceeding all my expectations.
Customer Rating:
Summary: It just saved my bacon...
Comment: I've had HP home server for about 6 months. All of the computers in my home automatically backup to the server every day. Yesterday, my daughter dropped my wife's laptop and the HD is now toast.
My wife had important work data on the computer so was very anxious about the probability of recovery. Having been through this before with other backup devices, I wasn't terribly optimistic.
However, I replaced the drive, plugged the laptop into the network and booted off the WHS recovery disk. I then asked it to recovery my wife's computer from the last back (which was from the day before) and went to bed. This morning I got up, rebooted my wife's computer and its back just like before!
Right now everyone is happy. This is the first time I've had a backup system that just worked. This server deserves more than 5 stars. I couldn't ask for a better disaster recovery experience.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Still has backup reliability problem in July 08
Comment: I just finished setting this great new little server up for my home network and things were going great. Installation was a snap and easy and as you install software on each new machine on the network it adds them to the automatic backup routine. That is where it blew up today after working great four days. I had six systems in our household set up over the last few days and as promised the server automatically was backing them up at night. Love it.... until today a big red warning popped up saying Network Health Critical and the Backup Server Was Not Running. I clicked on the link to how to fix and went through the steps and it did not fix it so I called HP Support. Here I learned the only fix was to click on the DELETE ALL backups button in backup settings and reset the backup server process. I said what???? There is no reason this just popped up on my screen it stopped working and the only resolution is to wipe out all my backups of the six computers. I was shocked and said that it is impossible to rely on this product then as my backup system and that is a major feature of the server. He acknowledged I was right and said he understands an upcoming update of the software will make it more reliable..... Great so don't buy this and think it will give you a reliable backup. Keep your existing backup routine until at least the first update in software after July 10th! Otherwise, I love this thing. Having a simple photowebserver and internet access to my files is super. Of course you have to sign up for a webaddress for an extra $10 a year and then be the manager and set up access accounts for all you want to be able to get to your files or photos or photo albums. Oh year, if you want to get directly to your computer my docs files you must be running Vista Ultimate or Business or XP Pro which I never new until I bought the machine. Thats Ok because I set up a filed folder on the server for my user account and called it My Documents and think keep in synced with the My Docs folder on my computer. I can access that folder from the internet when travelling. So this is a great new tool for us with home or small business networks, but it is new and still has a bug in the backup area so that feature is not reliable yet. Otherwise, having one terabyte of data available to everyone in the house and over the net when I want it is fantastic. So not a five star yet but I would buy it again even without the automatic system backup feature that blew up today for no apparent reason.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Now is a good time to invest in this product, the issues have been fixed.
Comment: After following the development of WHS for the last year, I can now say that now is the time to take the plunge. Power Pack 1 is now freely available to the public and along with new features it fixes the glaring bugs that most reviews have noted. Including the following:
1) The data corruption issue. This seems to be the most infamous bug with WHS, but was easily avoidable by not editing files remotely. But it is a mute point now that it is fixed.
2) Did not work with 64bit clients. This was the bigger issue for me as I have been using Vista 64 on a laptop for while.
Some other thoughts:
I think the 470 is a better deal than the 475. Installing a second 500GB hard drive is easy and cheaper than buying the 475. You really need a second drive to use the folder duplication feature. A feature I consider essential.
You will need atleast one windows pc. This is not a problem for me as I have several along with a linux computer and a Macbook. But for set up and administration you need to use windows.
Third party add ins are a nice bonus.
And it could not be easier to set up.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Very good product
Comment: I set up this server and installed the required software on 3 computers in less than 2 hours, including purchasing a custom domain name for remote web access.
It allows you to run a shared iTunes library from the home server, which is great because it permits easy syncing of new music purchases from multiple users in a single database.
The photo webshare is nice, if a little clunky. Setting up web photo albums is done in a similar fashion to other web applications. It can be tedious adding photos to an album. I would prefer to be able to create albums via a desktop application, like one can do via Google Picassa.
The backup feature is fantastic and idiot-proof. Installation of the web server software on each workstation enables default backups and you can either leave the settings as they are, or specify directories on each computer to exclude from backups (to save space, etc.). It does a full backup initially and incremental backups thereafter.
Regarding the custom domain name, I was actually able to browse to my custom domain almost immediately after purchase/registration, but in my experience that's unusual, normally propagation of a domain name to in IP address takes a bit more time. Please note that in addition to registering your domain name, you'll also have to purchase Dynamic DNS service (so your domain can always point to the dynamic IP address of your home network, since most ISPs assign IP addresses dynamically.
I installed a couple of add-ins very, very easily. I installed the Whiist web server add-in and it's great for running small web sites from your home server. It even supports Microsoft's Active Server Pages (ASP) so you can leverage VBScript.
I haven't installed any additional storage, so I can't speak to that, but my experience so far with this server has been fantastic. It's too bad Microsoft's other operating systems are not as easy to set up and use as this one is, and HP has done a great job of making that experience even better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
