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Title: Hewlett Packard EX475 1TB MediaSmart Server
Average Customer Review:
RRP: £594.44
Price: £449.99
You Save: £144.45 (24%)
Seller: Amazon.co.uk
Availability: In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served.
Average Customer Review:
RRP: £594.44
Price: £449.99
You Save: £144.45 (24%)
Seller: Amazon.co.uk
Availability: In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served.
Product Details:
Binding: Electronics
Publisher: HP
Publication Date:
Manufacturer: HP
Model: EX475
Item Weight: 18.08 lbs
Package Dimensions: 9.53 x 15.59 x 15.04 inches
ReleaseDate: 2007-11-06
EditorialReview: EX475 MediaSmart Server
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Customer Id: A1K5SPIS5GZ5MC 2008-12-29
Review Summary: Don't Buy, Updated Models Released
Review Content: HP have just released a newer model of these called HP MediaSmart ex485 and ex487.
HP's Jason Zajac said in a statement, "A growing number of digital-savvy households have both Windows and Mac computers, with hundreds and sometimes thousands of media files and documents scattered across these devices. The HP MediaSmart Server protects, stores and organizes this content from anywhere on a network so consumers can access and share it any place they are connected."
Both the ex485 and the ex487 are slated for retail availability in February and pre-orders will begin on January 5, 2009. Pricing will be $599 for the 750GB ex485 with the 1.5TB ex487 retailing for $749.
End of product details for - 'Hewlett Packard EX475 1TB MediaSmart Server'
Publisher: HP
Publication Date:
Manufacturer: HP
Model: EX475
Item Weight: 18.08 lbs
Package Dimensions: 9.53 x 15.59 x 15.04 inches
ReleaseDate: 2007-11-06
Features:
hp MediaSmart Server EX475EditorialReview: EX475 MediaSmart Server
Similar Products:
1: Microsoft Windows Home Server Unleashed
2: Windows Home Server User's Guide (Expert's Voice)
3: Windows Home Server for Dummies
4: Netgear GS605 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch
5: Netgear HDXB101 Powerline HD (High Definition) Ethernet Adapter kit (contains 2 HDXB101 devices)
Customer Reviews:
0 out of 0 people found the following review helpfulCustomer Id: A1K5SPIS5GZ5MC 2008-12-29 Review Summary: Don't Buy, Updated Models Released
Review Content: HP have just released a newer model of these called HP MediaSmart ex485 and ex487.
HP's Jason Zajac said in a statement, "A growing number of digital-savvy households have both Windows and Mac computers, with hundreds and sometimes thousands of media files and documents scattered across these devices. The HP MediaSmart Server protects, stores and organizes this content from anywhere on a network so consumers can access and share it any place they are connected."
Both the ex485 and the ex487 are slated for retail availability in February and pre-orders will begin on January 5, 2009. Pricing will be $599 for the 750GB ex485 with the 1.5TB ex487 retailing for $749.
3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful
Customer Id: A32R08996VATM1 2008-11-23
Review Summary: Excellent machine
Review Content: I think the 1st thing I will cover is what router will play nicely with Server. I'm using a netgear DG834GT with V1.02.13 firmware, version 14 messed up the port forwarding. Not all routers will work with the EX475 so do some homework before you decide on buying this unit.
I did have some problems with IP addresses swapping round on the router and when logging on via the web I would get my printer web page, this was easily fixed by creating static IP's.
I set up the EX475 using a vista powered laptop which was dead easy and straight forward. Basically insert disc and follow screen prompts. I've installed one Ad in which is a program called web guide which allows you to stream music and videos over the net.
The EX475 comes with 2 x 500gb hard drives & the EX470 comes with a single 500gb drive, I bought the EX470 and added a Samsung 1tb drive for the same price as buying a EX475, something to bear in mind when your looking to purchase one of these machines.
What else can it do??
Yes of course it's a server and its stores all your files etc, you can choose to mirror your important files onto another drive for safety.
Now the best bit I use it for is the media storage, photo's, video, MP3's etc. I was going to buy a Home theater PC to go under the tv and be able to stream all my films on to the television. I didn't need to as a Playstation 3 picks up the server and will play avi,mpegs,some divx and vob files which are ripped dvd's. It upscales films and really does a fantastic job.
To sum up it is a really good piece of kit and does work well, yes you will have problems along the way and more often than not a reboot will get things going.
Customer Id: A32R08996VATM1 2008-11-23 Review Summary: Excellent machine
Review Content: I think the 1st thing I will cover is what router will play nicely with Server. I'm using a netgear DG834GT with V1.02.13 firmware, version 14 messed up the port forwarding. Not all routers will work with the EX475 so do some homework before you decide on buying this unit.
I did have some problems with IP addresses swapping round on the router and when logging on via the web I would get my printer web page, this was easily fixed by creating static IP's.
I set up the EX475 using a vista powered laptop which was dead easy and straight forward. Basically insert disc and follow screen prompts. I've installed one Ad in which is a program called web guide which allows you to stream music and videos over the net.
The EX475 comes with 2 x 500gb hard drives & the EX470 comes with a single 500gb drive, I bought the EX470 and added a Samsung 1tb drive for the same price as buying a EX475, something to bear in mind when your looking to purchase one of these machines.
What else can it do??
Yes of course it's a server and its stores all your files etc, you can choose to mirror your important files onto another drive for safety.
Now the best bit I use it for is the media storage, photo's, video, MP3's etc. I was going to buy a Home theater PC to go under the tv and be able to stream all my films on to the television. I didn't need to as a Playstation 3 picks up the server and will play avi,mpegs,some divx and vob files which are ripped dvd's. It upscales films and really does a fantastic job.
To sum up it is a really good piece of kit and does work well, yes you will have problems along the way and more often than not a reboot will get things going.
6 out of 7 people found the following review helpful
Customer Id: A1B0X86DB0HPNH 2008-09-01
Review Summary: Excellent piece of kit
Review Content: I've had my EX475 about a week now - everything is set up and working nicely. Have fitted a 1TB External USB HDD to back up the server itself. Strangely, it seems server back-ups have to be initiated manually, while client back-ups are automatic on a schedule.
Also strangely, it is not possible to connect a printer to the EX475 using the home server console. I managed to do it, but I had to use the Terminal Services program which is not recommended. Perhaps they will add this feature - saves buying a network print server or having to leave a machine on all the time.
One point to watch out for - remote control of client PCs is NOT possible unless those clients are running XP Pro, or Vista Ultimate. The Vista Home Premium OS that most of us have, s not supported, due to no terminal services app. the HP/MS advertising is definitely misleading on this point.
I have 3 PCs and 3 laptops on my home network. I have set up remote access for all my family so we can all view photos/videos or retrieve/store files over the internet. All seems to work very well.
I have to say I was well surprised - these days, I just don't expect anything to work straight out of the box!
Jon
Customer Id: A1B0X86DB0HPNH 2008-09-01 Review Summary: Excellent piece of kit
Review Content: I've had my EX475 about a week now - everything is set up and working nicely. Have fitted a 1TB External USB HDD to back up the server itself. Strangely, it seems server back-ups have to be initiated manually, while client back-ups are automatic on a schedule.
Also strangely, it is not possible to connect a printer to the EX475 using the home server console. I managed to do it, but I had to use the Terminal Services program which is not recommended. Perhaps they will add this feature - saves buying a network print server or having to leave a machine on all the time.
One point to watch out for - remote control of client PCs is NOT possible unless those clients are running XP Pro, or Vista Ultimate. The Vista Home Premium OS that most of us have, s not supported, due to no terminal services app. the HP/MS advertising is definitely misleading on this point.
I have 3 PCs and 3 laptops on my home network. I have set up remote access for all my family so we can all view photos/videos or retrieve/store files over the internet. All seems to work very well.
I have to say I was well surprised - these days, I just don't expect anything to work straight out of the box!
Jon
6 out of 16 people found the following review helpful
Customer Id: A27K1PHSB82WG2 2008-08-13
Review Summary: Total rubbish
Review Content: Well ive had this a week and its been a nightmare....worked in computers for 20 years and this is the WORST product i have ever used.
install on first computer failed.....reinstall features on disk didnt work, so uninstalled windows home server and the hp apps, then reinstalled...worked this time
anyway.....since then
backups sometimes dont start even though setup correctly
the stupidest thing is as a backup device this is massively flawed......if your server develops a fault and cant be repaired then you will need to install the disks into a new mediasmart server as the disks CANNOT be read by any other device due to the way the server stores the data (its more like raid striping), problem is that if you install the data disks into a mediasmart server it formats it...dur!! also, you are knackered if you lose one disk...i contacted HP support and they have confirmed these scenarios are correct....unbelievable
others probs,
can view pics on my xbox360 but cant watch videos (can see the folders and files, cant play them, even though the files are fine and supported by xbox360 (avi and mpg) - even hp support, ms support and xbox support were dumbfounded by this one
often cant access the server - even though logon/pw correct, but can a bit later
install on wifes laptop unsuccessful as it cant find the server even though UPnP setup correctly
cant access shared foledrs anymore...server seems to think im logged on...reboots/reinstalls dont work/not logged on anyway
i cant help felling i have a dodgy one as my brothers one works perfectly apart from the major backup/data loss issue mentioned above
using a gigabit wireless/wired router and wired gigabit switch but these are setup correctly
im returning mine...fed up spending hours sorting out this rubbish...hp/ms/xbox support are hopeless...in fact hp couldnt careless, so nor can i
my feeling is that this device doesnt do what is states...its akin to selling a car without a brake pedal
incidentally i installed a dlink 655 gigabit router and netgear switch in under 30 minutes - take note HP and MS!!
Customer Id: A27K1PHSB82WG2 2008-08-13 Review Summary: Total rubbish
Review Content: Well ive had this a week and its been a nightmare....worked in computers for 20 years and this is the WORST product i have ever used.
install on first computer failed.....reinstall features on disk didnt work, so uninstalled windows home server and the hp apps, then reinstalled...worked this time
anyway.....since then
backups sometimes dont start even though setup correctly
the stupidest thing is as a backup device this is massively flawed......if your server develops a fault and cant be repaired then you will need to install the disks into a new mediasmart server as the disks CANNOT be read by any other device due to the way the server stores the data (its more like raid striping), problem is that if you install the data disks into a mediasmart server it formats it...dur!! also, you are knackered if you lose one disk...i contacted HP support and they have confirmed these scenarios are correct....unbelievable
others probs,
can view pics on my xbox360 but cant watch videos (can see the folders and files, cant play them, even though the files are fine and supported by xbox360 (avi and mpg) - even hp support, ms support and xbox support were dumbfounded by this one
often cant access the server - even though logon/pw correct, but can a bit later
install on wifes laptop unsuccessful as it cant find the server even though UPnP setup correctly
cant access shared foledrs anymore...server seems to think im logged on...reboots/reinstalls dont work/not logged on anyway
i cant help felling i have a dodgy one as my brothers one works perfectly apart from the major backup/data loss issue mentioned above
using a gigabit wireless/wired router and wired gigabit switch but these are setup correctly
im returning mine...fed up spending hours sorting out this rubbish...hp/ms/xbox support are hopeless...in fact hp couldnt careless, so nor can i
my feeling is that this device doesnt do what is states...its akin to selling a car without a brake pedal
incidentally i installed a dlink 655 gigabit router and netgear switch in under 30 minutes - take note HP and MS!!
17 out of 19 people found the following review helpful
Customer Id: A11NSKR21Z9JSZ 2008-04-03
Review Summary: A nice item fom HP (if you really need it)
Review Content: Considering for the price of nearly £500 you can buy a complete PC, this item takes a bit of justification. In my case a failed 500GB external hard drive from Western Digital didn't quite cut it, but I bought one anyway.
Like all hardware from HP this Home server comes with an easy to follow setup poster. Installation, whilst not a complete nightmare, was not a walk in the park either. I spent a fair bit of time tweaking my firewall settings in order for the unit to be found on my system. I wished i'd known too, that the CD-Key sticker was on the base of the unit - quite tricky to read this without pulling out the power lead.
Getting my router correctly configured for remote access was another minor challenge, allthough having a linksys router (an 8 port cabled BEFSR81 in my case) did help as it was for the most part automated.
I find the HP Media Smart Home Server easy to use now I am familiar with it. I have come to terms with being forced to logging on to my PC with a password (user accounts are essential for remote access)
With hindsight I am glad I bought the unit rather than getting another external hard drive. It is very usefull and I am filling up the storage space fast. Just as well it is easily expandable.
Customer Id: A11NSKR21Z9JSZ 2008-04-03 Review Summary: A nice item fom HP (if you really need it)
Review Content: Considering for the price of nearly £500 you can buy a complete PC, this item takes a bit of justification. In my case a failed 500GB external hard drive from Western Digital didn't quite cut it, but I bought one anyway.
Like all hardware from HP this Home server comes with an easy to follow setup poster. Installation, whilst not a complete nightmare, was not a walk in the park either. I spent a fair bit of time tweaking my firewall settings in order for the unit to be found on my system. I wished i'd known too, that the CD-Key sticker was on the base of the unit - quite tricky to read this without pulling out the power lead.
Getting my router correctly configured for remote access was another minor challenge, allthough having a linksys router (an 8 port cabled BEFSR81 in my case) did help as it was for the most part automated.
I find the HP Media Smart Home Server easy to use now I am familiar with it. I have come to terms with being forced to logging on to my PC with a password (user accounts are essential for remote access)
With hindsight I am glad I bought the unit rather than getting another external hard drive. It is very usefull and I am filling up the storage space fast. Just as well it is easily expandable.