Buffalo LinkStation Live 500 GB Multimedia Storage Server HS-DH500GL Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm just writing this review because I believe this product and the company are dealt with a bit unfair in other reviews.
I just installed this device - I own a older Linkstation which works without any problems for non-stop 3 years now - and I would like to mention a few points. I also talked to Buffalo support before buying it (which yes, has a long waiting time on the phone but very compentent people, I believe, that answer at the end, and got clarification on a few points.
The good:
+ fast, just copying 75 GB in around 90 minutes on a 100 MBit network, and the speed is just fine
+ good looking, this device looks great
+ easy to install
The bad:
not much really
- if you enable the media server it reads/writes constantly, the reason is it indexes the disk for new files all the time - buffalo support is aware of this and will release a new firmware which allows you to index manually with a button on demand, this is a good solution for me
- no more bad, sorry ;-)
I find many of the reviews here a bit strange, lets talk about some examples:
- Scanner does not work (well, ALL these devices dont support Multifunction printers, because they technically can't, this is not Buffalos fault
- I put a new firmware on my device and now it's broken - well, apparently, earlier firmwares where different for the Pro and Live model, if you put the wrong firmware on it can't boot anymore, is this Buffalos fault??
- noisy hmmhh, mine is SUPER quiet - actually quieter than the old modell, how quiet do you expect a harddisk to be??
- web interface slow, that's true and I find it a bit strange, but how often are you changing parameters over the Web gui? It's a bit strange, but only a very minor nuissance.
I get the feeling that many users buying a media server are a bit novice at IT devices. Also because the PRO line gets better reviews.
Anyway, I nearly would not have bought this device because of all the bad reviews. But it would have been a mistake. I love it. It's not expensive and I personally recommend it!
Hope this helps.
Armin

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LinkStation Live 500GB Shared Network Storage

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Netgear EVA700 Digital Entertainer Review

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(More customer reviews)Before I bought this unit, I tried the D-Link DSM-520 for about a month before giving up. This unit is identical to the DSM in function with one BIG difference-- it is stable! My advise to those not wanting to tinker- skip this technology for a year or so, others read on...
Install
~~~~
I hooked it up to a wireless router and PC with a few external hard drives and it works (almost) flawlessly. First of all, like others said, do NOT install the software that it comes with and also forget Intel Viv technology installs. Just install one of the free (or almost free) software like TVersity (my fav.), Wizd or Twonkyvision. However, except for Wizd, you can't search for a particular album/artist/genre. You have to scroll through menu after menu to find a movie/song/photo.
Media
~~~~~
I am currently streaming a few hundred CDs in FLAC (lossless format) which is noticeably better than the very best MP3 format. For DVDs, I simply have the server software pointed to the Folders that have the DVD (VOB) files. The player does a very good job of picking up subtitles automatically too. I have NOT installed the photo folder as I find the usage completely useless for my needs. I shoot 6MP raw format images. I can't see myself browsing through tens of thousands of images and then waiting for 1 minute for an image to load up!
Conclusion
~~~~~~~~~
All in all, a good system for those that are not intimidated by network setups and server programs but want an uncluttered music system and (almost) instant access to movies, music and photos.


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The NETGEAR EVA700 Digital Entertainer connects your TV and home entertainment system to your computer network, letting you enjoy the movies, videos, radio, and photos that reside on your your PC on a larger screen and better speakers.
Easy Setup and Strong Security The EVA700 plugs into your home theater system with a variety of outputs including RCA, S-Video, Digital Coaxial/SPDIF audio, and HD component video. The Digital Entertainer has both 802.11g wireless for up to 54 Mbps speeds, and a wired 10/100 Mbps RJ-45 jack in order to connect the device to your home network. Support for Intel Hub Connect Technology makes the connection easy to set up.
In addition to the hard drive of your PC, the EVA700 also works seamlessly with the NETGEAR SC101 storage device. There is also a USB port on the front of the device, letting you play files saved on an iPod, USB thumb drive, USB disk, or digital camera.
The Digital Entertainer boasts hardware-based WEP 40/64-bit and 128-bit encryption, as well as WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK encryption for enhanced security.
Support for Many File Formats The Digital Entertainer can handle a large variety of file formats. Compatible audio formats include MP3 (up to 320 Kbps or VBR), WAV, WMA (up to 192 Kbps or VBR), M3U, and AAC. Compatible video formats include: MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, AVI, WMV (up to 1080p down-converted), and Xvid. Compatible photo formats include: JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF, and GIF.
An included remote control lets you control all the media files on your home network--as well as from popular internet sites--from the comfort of your couch. The NETGEAR EVA700 Digital Entertainer is backed by a 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box EVA700 Digital Entertainer, infrared remote control (2 AA batteries included), power cable, Ethernet cable, RCA stereo-audio/composite-video cable, installation guide, resource CD, and warranty/support information card.

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NETGEAR Wireless Router for Video and Gaming WNDR37AV Review

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(More customer reviews)Introduction
This is my third router in 5 years. I upgrade when the technology takes a jump or when I start to see a lot of network outages or both. This time I replaced a router that was 802.11n but it was not dual band (netgear 3500 series). I used the 3500 about 2.5 years and I was starting to see more and more network outages. Maybe because the router was getting old or maybe because I'm starting to add more devices to my network and it simply could not handle the traffic. Currently I have the following equipment on my wireless network: (1)Desktop, 2(laptops),(1)iPhone4, (2)iTouch, (2)Sony PS3, (1)Kodak Digital Picture, (2)Flat Panel TV's streaming video. I also support a number of devices wired directly to my router including: (1)Desktop, (1)Network Printer, (1)AT&T 3G Microcell, (1)Synology NAS, (1)Sonos Bridge, (1) Vonage Device. So, I have many devices trying to communicate through my router.
Router Review
Installation was a snap. Out of the box, follow the quick install guide. Power off modem, connect router to modem, connect computer to router, power on modem (2 minutes), power on router (2 minutes), power on computer (2 minutes). Type in [...] to access router. Default configuration will get you online. Have the router check for firmware updates with the netgear website. If there are any upgrades available, download and install. I always change the router password from default. Setup wireless network both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. I named them both the same and added a 5G to the 5GHz band :). Setup security preferences (WPA2-PSK [AES] for me) , type in passphrase (network password). Done.
I use my Synology NAS as an ftp server that can be accessed from outside my home network so I had to setup some port forwarding. This is outside the scope of most setups. Suffice to say that this operation went smoothly with no problems.
I had a secure network up and running with no problems in a matter of minutes. I added both TV's to the 5GHz band using WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) and I added the other wireless devices to the 2.4GHz band using the passphrase.
The network has been up and running for a week now with no outages. I have really taxed the network too by streaming HD movies, moving large files from my computer to my NAS, while uploading large files to a remote backup site. No matter what I throw at this router, it doesn't miss a beat.
Pros
Easy setup
Easy to add devices to network (WEP and passphrase)
Strong signal throughout the house (much better than 3500)
Cool looking design, low profile and lights
Reliable (so far after a week of heavy use)
Reasonable price
Cons
Could have included a Gensu knife or Salad Shooter with router.
Based on the ease of setup, performance, and reliability under heavy traffic, I highly recommend this router.

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Why Netgear's Wireless Router for Video and Gaming? Dual Band Wireless - Twice the bandwidth for better connection and less interference Gigabit - High speed wired connection. Ideal for transferring large HD Video files DLNA Media Server - Stream video and music from a USB drive to media players and DLNA TVs-no PC required! Video mode - optimized to stream HD without glitches, stutters, or lags Dedicated video network - Stream video on one network, while surfing the Internet on the other networkWireless Connectivity - Wirelessly connect notebooks and wireless printers as well as networked home theater devices

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