HP MediaSmart Home Server Review
With more and more of peoples’ personal lives now being stored on computers, the home server concept has come of age. PCs’ have fallen out of favor, even with those who are deskbound and laptops and notebooks rule the roost. But laptops are not the most stable of devices. And none of us backs up, as we should!
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Based on the Windows Home Server platform, the HP SmartMedia is designed for use with both Windows and Mac based computers. The server functions as a central repository and automatic back up device for all the data that is generated and stored by either a single computer or multiple computers on a home network.
Everything, and this means everything, including documents, music, photos, videos can be safely backed up and stored on the home server. With a capacity of 1.5TB it can take everything any normal home will produce for along time. And with a price of approximately $749, it’s well worth the cost.
The SmartMedia Home Server automatically organizes all files across a network of home PCs. With a growing number of homes now using multiple computers, and that too a mixture of both Windows and Mac operating systems, the amount of data that a home generates, in a variety of forms, is becoming so complex that keeping track of it in a way that ensure its security and well as the privacy of those who have created and use the data, has become a major concern. The SmartMedia Server is one of the easiest to install and use.
What the SmartMedia Home Server offers:
• A media collector that schedules regular copying and central storage of files from networked PCs.
• Remote streaming of photos and music to any internet enabled PC or Mac.
• Centralized iTunes library with individual playlists for streaming to any of the networked PCs or Macs.
• HP Photo Publisher software that allows easy upload of pictures to facebook, Picassa and other sites.
• PC HDD Backup that backs up all networked PC and Macs using special Windows and Mac applications.
• Server Backup: This allows for duplication of shared folders to a separate HDD.
• Online Backup allows for duplicating folders on Amazon’s S3 online backup service for yet another level of data protection.
• Power Management options allow for automatic scheduling of server sleep and wakeup times to save on power.
• Additional data storage in the form of additional drives can be installed giving a maximum capacity of 9 TB.
For all those with multiple computers at home who are looking for a safe and automatic way to secure all their valuable data, photographs and so on, the SmartMedia home server seems to offer a simple and reasonably priced solution.
Besides home applications, it will also meet the needs of the small or home office.
Housed in a smart black cabinet the size of a mini tower, this server does not require a monitor, keyboard or mouse. Just plug it in, load some software and your server is up and running.
The Server is expected to go on sale in February 2009 but it can be pre ordered now from HP.