Pogoplug Multimedia Sharing Device Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been using pogoplug connected to a 250GB external hard drive for about a month now, and can say they werent kidding how simple this is. It took longer for me to find room around my desk to connect everything than logging into their site download a simple application and off i go. The application creates a virtual drive on your computer that allows you to use it as a normal drive connect straight to the pc. Although they do provide a software to monitor for folder changes to sync to your files i opted for a more robust software. I decided to use SyncBackPro to monitor any changes on folders and sync then from my pc to pogoplug and pogoplug to pc (along w/ many other features). This seems to do the trick nicely. If you have multiple drives connected to your pogoplug you can do active sync which will transfer the files to another hard drive for redundant backups.
The website [...] looks and works wonderfully. Its able to transcode your videos into HTML5 allowing you to view your videos anywhere and pretty much anything. The sharing option is fantastic when working on projects. Only downside is if you share a folder that other party (and given full access) can use up as much storage on your hard drive as they want. There currently is no way to limit how many gigs they can use. It would be best to have a extra hard drive for sharing only in case your sharing.
As a android user they do have a app on the marketplace which recently had a update that really improved upon it. Again since videos are HTML 5 you can view them easily. It does get little choppy on 3G but on wifi works perfectly. Only downside is that you can upload documents/images from your phone to your pogoplug.

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Pogoplug's POGO-E02 multimedia sharing device lets you connect any external hard drive and then access and share your content over the internet. You have access to your content wherever you go, all files can be viewed, downloaded or streamed through any web browser. Access and share your content across multiple operating platforms; Pogoplug is compatible with Mac, Windows and Linux. Easily share content, including HD video and full resolution photos, with friends and family with no uploading. Sharing is as simple as sending an invitation through an automated email link. Pogoplug is also great for working professionals who need to share information with clients and partners. Allow others to view and download or give them full access, you can pick and choose who has access to what files and folders. You can even stream videos, music and photos directly to your iPhone, Blackberry, Droid and other mobile devices. Keeping up with friends and family is easier than ever, with a single click publish your selected photos, videos and more directly to social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Myspace. Installation takes less than 60 seconds and there are no monthly fees ever. Get plugged in today!

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HP X280N MediaSmart Connect Review

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(More customer reviews)August 3rd, 2008
I have been using a home built media center for about 1.5 years. It holds most of the kids movies (DIVX & XVID) and does recording of SD and HDTV. The main issue I had was that it was Noisy and generated a lot of heat in the media cabinet where system and other components were mounted. My goal was to move my MCE to the basement and use extenders in the house. I had a couple of requirements before I would switch this out for an extender.
1) WIFE Friendly
2) Support HDTV
2) Must play Amazon UNBOX Files
3) Must play DIVX (XVID) formats.
4) Must be able to schedule recordings from the Extender
Thursday I got the MediaSmart Connect and started with the install... When I first set it up, I installed the HP Software and went through the procedure for connecting the extender to the my Vista MCE system. Initially I was a little disappointed, it was slow and Amazon Unbox videos would not play. I also noticed that my MCE system was Locking up. I decided that this might be more due to my MCE system. So Friday night, I completely re-installed vista, MCE, but did not install the HP software.
Once the system was running (YOU MUST INSTALL SP1), my VISTA MCE system found the extender automatically. It worked GREAT... The MediaSmart Connect was much more responsive, MCE no longer locked up. And best of all Amazon Unbox video's will play through my MediaSmart Connect. I gave it the Wife test last night and she loved it... The with the Main MCE system moved to the basement and only the MediaSmart Connect visible, she was happy. No more noisy fans running and we can now close the doors of the media cabinet with out worrying about overheating.
A couple of Notes:
1) The Media Smart will Play Unbox videos from your MCE Machine, but if you move the storage of the Unbox files to somewhere other then the installed location you may have problems.
2) I am using a wired connection, I have not tested the performance of the wireless side.
3) I am not using the HP software, it is extender mode only.
If you are currently using a Media Center, this system is EASY to add on.... So far I am very pleased, will update this again with any issues I have after I have had a chance to run it for a week or two.


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HP X280N MediaSmart Receiver. The HP MediaSmart Receiver enables browsing of your entire library of digital photos, music, and HD video even across multiple PCs Access thousands of the best and latest movies, TV shows, videos, and songs from online media. HPs simple interface enables you to search for movies, order them, and begin watching them moments after downloading has begun. Unlike other receivers that allow you to access media from only one server at a time, HPs MediaSmart receiver automatically aggregates and displays content from all connected PCs or media servers in your home network. Enjoy a full Microsoft Media Center Experience with a single click on your remote. Watch live or pre-recorded TV and access Microsofts online services through the HP MediaSmart Receiver. Integrated 802.11a/b/g/n wireless networking, enables the streaming of high definition video while providing compatibility to existing Wi-Fi networks. A built in HP Pocket Media Drive bay and two USB ports allow direct access to your content stored in mass storage media. HDMI, component, and analog and digital audio outputs provide simple connectivity to your HDTV and audio equipment. The MediaSmart receiver features a dramatic, pianoblack, high gloss, exterior with an HP exclusive Zen imprint pattern. Blends into the living room and adds elegance to any entertainment system. The receiver includes a universal remote control. Use it to access all your content, order movies, or control up to four more entertainment devices.

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NETGEAR SC101 Storage Central Review

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(More customer reviews)Well I purchased 4 of these units, hoping to make this stack of 40GB, 80GB and 120GB drives I have laying around the house useful again. So far, buying these was not a good idea. I attribute most of my problems to there not being enough real technical review of the product available, and all documentation simply glosses over technical details in exchange for sales-speak. First, I'll say these are niftily crafted units that might have been pretty slick if they'd worked the way I expected them to. Problems encountered and gripes mounted include:
* These are not NAS devices, as some of the documentation might lead you to believe. A NAS device (network attached storage) typically offers clients the ability to connect to the device, using it's native fileshare method. CIFS for Windows, NFS for Linux/Unix, etc. These devices offer none of that.
* Device is available to Windows clients on the network only. If that's not bad enough, check the following gripe.
* Every PC that wants to access the device needs to have the software CD installed. Usually a NAS device will offer a shared filesystem that can be mounted in the OS's native method. With this box, all the PCs need to have a driver installed in order to see the device.
* DHCP only. There is no option to have a static IP address on the device. It is DHCP only.
* On first install, lamely worded error message hindered the install. After installing the device and the driver, it kept failing with the error "Unable to enumerate drive". The help file was useless. After an hour of messing with it and finally deleting all of my mapped drives, the installation suceeded and I was able to use the device.
* You MUST use the included software. Although the device seems to be listening on port 80, there is no web interface to configure it. The included software, running on Windows is the only way.
* Non-Windows systems are out of luck. This is a Windows only device. Do not try to connect to it with Mac OSX or Linux (both of which I have). The device can be connected and re-shared by a Windows PC, allowing Macs and Linux to get to it, but this has proved painstakingly slow.
* Painstakingly slow. I connected the device to an older Windows PC and the best sustained data transfer I could get (read or write) was around 3MB/s. Hardly a speed demon. My linux fileserver on the same network can easily sustain 10MB/s. I am going to connect the device to a faster Xeon based system and see how speedy it is then.
* Simple security. I saw no method of creating usernames or any kind of security on the device other than the single password that can be setup to access the device. Probably because this is designed for the home where there are not a bunch of users and passwords to manage.
Now this is a pretty new product, so hopefully it will get better with time. It seemed like such a good idea (obviously, I bought 4 of them), but I'm not convinced it was the best execution. Buyer beware.

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The NETGEAR SC101 Storage Central is an expandable storage system that allows shared access by all computers on your network. With space for two IDE hard drives, you can set the device up to mirror each other so you have a backup of all your files in case either one fails.
Excellent Value and Easy Setup Unlike other network-attached storage (NAS) devices, the SC101 does not come with any drives but requires you to purchase your own. This allows for considerable cost savings. Opening up the SC101 only requires turning a latch that can be done with a quarter; no tools are needed. Attach the power connectors and IDE cables, set the jumpers, and slide the drive into place, and that's it.
After the hard drives are installed, plug the device in, attach it to the network, and install the included software. The software guides you through setup step by step. When everything is ready to go, it looks like a new hard drive has been installed on your PC and you use it just as you would any other hard drive. Backup software is included for users who don't already have their own preferred software. Please note that the SC101 is only compatible with Windows machines and won't work with Macs or Linux.
Outstanding Performance with Various Storage Options The SC101 connects to your network via a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet connection for fast data transfers. When you connect two drives to the device, you have the option of having them "mirrored" or "spanned." Mirrored storage lets you keep two copies of every file, one on each drive, so that everything is backed up in case of drive failure. When two drives are set to span, they appear as one volume so they are easy to work with and the device will automatically find your data across both drives.
The front panel has three LEDs to let you know the status of the power, hard disk and network at a glance. The NETGEAR SC101 Storage Central is backed by a 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box SC101 Storage Central, resource CD, power adapter, Ethernet cable, installation guide, SmartSync Pro Backup Software CD, and warranty/support information card.

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Buffalo Technology LinkStation Quad 4 TB (4 X 1 TB) Network Attached Storage LS-Q4.0TL/R5(Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Good product for the price (paid $404 from Amazon). The price attracted me to this, since the "real" RAID 5 solution w/o performance issues are around ~$600~$800 w/o the hard drives. Bought it to protect my distributed data around 5 computers, and enough performance to keep all the files from the computers on the networked NAS drive, and protected.
RAID 1 (mirroring) was not my preference, and RAID 5 (parity, N+1 protection) was, which limited my choices to quad drive models.
Positives
- Easy management via browser, reasonable security and read/write privilege settings, even without setting up SMB server or equivalent (did not test the SMB server authentication yet).
- DLNA - for those who have DLNA TV, and TV connected to home network, the expected DLNA functions (content discovery, streaming, etc) worked well.
- Worked well with other SATA drives. Originally came w/ 4 x 250 G WD drives, and I put 500 G Maxtor, Seagate, WD, and Samsung drives, and all got recognized and ran without any issues.
- USB expansion -- I have a few of USB drives, that got instantly upgrade to NAS operation by connecting them (2) to this unit. Seems to handle mixed file systems fine: at least for NTFS and FAT32. Power on/off the external units as I need them.
Neutral
- Performance is reasonable -- works near 100% bandwidth in peaks over Fast Ethernet (100 Mb/s), but at Gigabit Ethernet speeds, it only peaks around 150~220 Mb/s. In human perception terms, no noticeable delay using files on NAS for editing or streaming music or video, but copy (e.g. back up) of 500 G data takes about 7~8 hours (compared to local disk to disk copy taking about 1~1.5 hrs).
- Performance during disk fault recovery operation is very good -- When fully operating, I removed a drive (simulated disk fault), and added a different drive (500G). The file server (access, copy from and copy to NAS) degraded performance was NOT noticeable during the fault recovery (as it shouldn't). A large directory copy (~20 G) was measurably noticeable (about 20~25% longer copy time).
- Performance per price point is reasonable that is.
Negatives
- RAID 5 should work on 3 or more drives. LinkStation Quad only supports RAID 5 on 4 drives. So, my original plan of using 3 drives for protected (and recoverable) data (e.g. family photo, work files), and 1 drive for bulk storage media (e.g. mp3 music, family video, etc) is not an option. So I configured RAID 5 over 4 internal drives, and put external USB drive for unprotected bulk storage.
- RAID initialization takes several days, YES, SEVERAL DAYS!. Manual warns about this, and it is true. I had several extra 500G drives, and had uses for 250G drives, so I bought the cheapest LinkStation Quad (1 TB model), and replaced it w/ 500G drives to get 2 TB (raw, before RAID). This replacement forced me to do format and the RAID initialization -- in my case, it took 2.5 days straight. The break down is about 1.5 days for individual drives to be low-level formatted to XFS (for 500G), and about 1 day to get RAID initialized (for 4 x 500 G) RAID 5 mode.
- Major ISSUE for Power users, but minor for casual users: Tested the gradual upgrade of the system capacity -- meaning start w/ 4 x 250 G, and start replacing each drive with 500 G, allowing to recover each time. When all 4 drives are replaced higher capacity drives, the unit SHOULD use higher capacity automatically, but it DID NOT. Had to remove all data, re-init the RAID 5 array (again 1 day), at which time the system reported higher capacity, and then put back the data (again about 1 day for 500 G).
Short Recommendation on selecting models (circa 01/2009) based on Price and Time only:
I bought 1 TB model, because I could use 4 x 250 G on my desktop PCs. But all the headaches and time does not justify the price difference. The 2 TB model is the best option (price, capacity, and upgrading w/ your own drives, all considered) if you have no use for the 4 x 250 G drives. 4 TB model seems to be the same price as if you bought 1 TB model plus 4 separate 1 TB drives (and you end up w/ "free" 4 x 250 GB drives. Again valuable only if you have use for those).
Not yet tested but will test:
- Access to this NAS storage behind home router from my work that has both firewall (incoming and outgoing), using both Buffalo's portal as well as fixed IP configuration. If this works well, my extended family could pull family photos directly from my home server, and I could access my personal documents on this NAS from work!


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Linkstaton Quad Nas 4tb 4x1tbPerpsata Raid Gbe 5 Web Access Dlna

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