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Dr Gadget - HP EX470 MediaSmart Home Server (AMD Live, Windows Home Server, 500 GB Hard Drive)
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List Price: $708.00
Our Price: $549.99
Your Save: $ 158.01 ( 22% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Electronics
Brand: Hewlett-Packard
EAN: 0883585222636
Feature: Conveniently centralize your files and access them from an internet-connected computer
Hard Disk Size: 500
Is Autographed: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
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
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Features
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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
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Very good but needs more RAM
Comment: Shipping this product with 512Mb of RAM is just plain silly.
I immediately upgraded the RAM to 2Gb and found a massive improvement in speed!
But in doing so, I ended up stripping 2 screws and the cover doesn't close very well.
But I don't care since I have tucked it away in a corner and it's out of sight.
But HP should sell this with at least 1 Gb if not 2 Gb.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Works OK, but should be better
Comment: I've had the MediaSmart for about a month. Great looking product, and setup was easy. Initially, my router kept crashing after I'd installed the HP. I've since installed a gigabit switch between the HP and the router. Now the switch crashes but at least the rest of the network stays up. My biggest complaint is that the disk frequently seems to spin for hours & hours on end, even when there is seemingly no activity on the box. When the HP is going through these long periods of read/writes, access to the server can be very slow. I have turned off all of the services that I can, using it only as a passive file server, but it still seems to be working very hard. One of the reasons I turned off the services was that none of them seemed to work perfectly. Automatic backup ran the best; remote access was VERY slow; and I was never able to get auto-synching for iTunes to work at all predictably (it didn't run, then it ran once, then it never ran again).
I am an "intermediate" computer user - I can set up systems, but struggle to troubleshoot problems once they get past the rudimentary fixes. I also just don't have the hours and hours needed to find and fix every computer problem that comes up.
There is a nice interface to the OS, but it seems to be mainly geared towards setup rather than troubleshooting. In general, the HP seems to run OK (ie, it runs), but not quite well enough for me to relax and stop worrying about it. If you're a computer expert and love tinkering, I bet you can get the server humming, but if you're looking for a turnkey solution, I'd recommend waiting a bit.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Nice, but not well integrated with other HP products
Comment: I've had the EX470 for over six months now, and can't say I would recommend it. After about six hours n the phone with (a very helpful and friendly) tech support, we finally got it working with my two 32 bit systems. I had to wait until a month ago to get it to talk to my two 64 bit computers (again, after a lot of help from tech support). It worked fine for a few weeks, then quit talking to one of my HP 64 bit computers. I can log on to the console, but it will not back up. The remote access function was nice (while it worked), but it seems like everytime MS or HP push a patch, things break, and I'm running out of time and patience fixing them. Since I can get that same remote access functionality with Live Mesh (which has worked great since day one), I don't need the EX470. If HP doesn't start doing a better job of integrating their products (I own a TouchSmart, DV9600 laptop, and older desktop), I'm looking elsewhere for my next addition (a Media Center replacement for my Replay TVs).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great home file server
Comment: I purchased the EX470 to help contain the file sprawl between the 4 pcs (2 desktops/2 laptops) in my home and it has worked wonderfully. I also like the automated backup feature. Coupled with Windows FolderShare I use the media server as the main repository for files that I also need offline copies of on the laptops. I have reduced my overall disk utilization by being able to get rid of duplicates.
The remote file share over the internet has been great for accessing files while at work, or sharing files with folks outside my home.
I highly recommend this server.
Customer Rating:
Summary: No Adequate 64-bit Support
Comment: Unfortunately HP nor Microsoft supply 64-bit install software for this product and its kin HP EX475. For those of you who are running Windows XP/Vista 64-bit, you are currently required to install the HP/Microsoft 32-bit install software on a Windows XP/Vista 32-bit networked computer then upgrade the HP and Microsoft software with patches Windows XP/Vista 64-Bit networked computer. Also, HP's and Microsoft's support page(s) for the EX470 and EX475 are not well intigrated into their support systems.
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Editorial Reviews:
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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.
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