Customer Reviews for HP 750GB MediaSmart Server
This product is no longer available. Continue shopping at Best Buy.
HP 750GB MediaSmart Server
Model: EX485
SKU: 9184571
UPC: 884420143451
This home server features remote access to files, auto PC backup, media streaming, HP Media Collector and virtually limitless storage expandability so you can enjoy your digital media anywhere in your home.
Average Customer Rating:
3.1
out of 5
(7 Reviews) 7
Rating Snapshot 7 reviews
5 stars
3
4 stars
0
3 stars
1
2 stars
1
1 star
2
43% of customers would recommend this product to a friend
(
3 out of
7)
Customer Reviews for HP 750GB MediaSmart Server
Review 1 for HP 750GB MediaSmart Server
I Wouldn't Buy It - Again#$%^&@#$%&*
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: kevrom
from Colorado
on 10/31/2009
I purchased an HP MediaSmart Server almost a year ago. My initial thought is “Smart” should be taken out of the name because “Smart” is not a word that comes to mind based on my experience. The HP MediaSmart Server was plenty easy to set up – maybe that’s where HP gets the confidence to call this “Smart” – but that’s when my nightmare began. Since that time I’ve repeatedly been on the phone and online (as if THAT ever worked) and emailing trying to get HP MediaSmart Server to simply to the things it’s supposed to do and do them consistently. MANY “case numbers” (I can even tell you how tech support creates case numbers…I’m that good now!) and hours and hours of effort, both on my own and with HP MediaSmart Server tech support and I’m STILL where I was roughly 12 months ago. The device looks slick, but STYLE should never trump SUBSTANCE, and on the latter there is little to be found here.
Here are some issues I’ve been struggling with interminably:
- Fundamentally, the HP MediaSmart Server is supposed to find music files on various computers and save new content, automatically, to the server, but that works intermittently at best.
- The HP MediaSmart Server does stream media, but, for example it streams songs in duplicate and triplicate making playback via stereo excruciatingly painful for various reasons.
- The McAfee software that comes preloaded “causes problems” (HP MediaSmart Server tech support speak) and doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to.
- The HP MediaSmart Server is supposed allow you to access content remote via the internet. That worked for a few months, but no longer does. Searching online it seems based on one site or another that feature is no longer supported by HP.
- I’ve recently encountered another problem that just came out of nowhere – when the Server Console opens it is all black. One big blacked out screen, so the entire system – computer, console and server itself, must all be rebooted.
- Won’t back up a second computer in the house. HP MediaSmart Server tech support said that computer’s hard disk was going bad and that I’d have to replace it. I did that, at MY cost, only to be told by another HP MediaSmart Server tech support guy later, “Dude, you didn’t need to do that…You should insist at a minimum on a longer warranty period to compensate you for the time and cost…”
- The HP MediaSmart Server does stream media, but, for example it streams songs in duplicate and triplicate making playback via stereo excruciatingly painful for various reasons.
- The McAfee software that comes preloaded “causes problems” (HP MediaSmart Server tech support speak) and doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to.
- The HP MediaSmart Server is supposed allow you to access content remote via the internet. That worked for a few months, but no longer does. Searching online it seems based on one site or another that feature is no longer supported by HP.
- I’ve recently encountered another problem that just came out of nowhere – when the Server Console opens it is all black. One big blacked out screen, so the entire system – computer, console and server itself, must all be rebooted.
- Won’t back up a second computer in the house. HP MediaSmart Server tech support said that computer’s hard disk was going bad and that I’d have to replace it. I did that, at MY cost, only to be told by another HP MediaSmart Server tech support guy later, “Dude, you didn’t need to do that…You should insist at a minimum on a longer warranty period to compensate you for the time and cost…”
I could go on and on, but you get the point. Several others such as Western Digital make “media servers.” I’d look elsewhere unless you enjoy and have the time to spend hours on the phone with HP MediaSmart Server tech support people. Generally, none of them have been able to help anyway.
Caveat Emptor!
What's great about it: The Idea
What's not so great: What It's Supposed to Do - "Stream Media"
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 2 for HP 750GB MediaSmart Server
Avoid, avoid, avoid !!!
Customer Rating
2.0
Value for Price
1.0
Features
2.0
Performance
1.0
Reliability
4.0
I've had this server for a year, and though it's slow, clunky and has a cumbersome interface it was fine for backing up our daily small business office work and using for intra-site file transfers. That is, until we upgraded to new computers that run 64 bit operating systems. The 64 bit systems WILL connect, transfer files and read what you need, but you can forget abouit backing anything up from your computer, which is where this machine is supposed to shine. Search the net and see the complaints yourself if you don't believe me.
The real problem is this machine is stuck in the past. If you love your older computers with their 32 bit systems and will keep them a long time, you'll be OK. If you're looking to upgrade, notice how many machines come with 64 bit now, and you'll see the problem here.
What's great about it: backs up your stuff...
What's not so great: ...IF you don't have Vista 64 or later
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 3 for HP 750GB MediaSmart Server
Too complicated for the average user.
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: boyoboyoboy
from Normal, IL
on 07/25/2009
Value for Price
1.0
Features
1.0
Performance
1.0
Reliability
1.0
I bought this to load 4 2TB drive and backup my files. It took forever to update the software since it gets stuck at 12%. Also the server tends to shutdown a lot and require a reboot with certain network routers. I don't think this server is ready for prime time for the average user.
What's great about it: Ability to store 4 redundant drives.
What's not so great: Very complicated to learn to use properly.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 4 for HP 750GB MediaSmart Server
Great home server, easy to use
Customer Rating
5.0
Value for Price
4.0
Features
5.0
Performance
5.0
Reliability
5.0
I don't post many reviews, but this is a solid piece of equipment. Negative reviews I've read have mostly been user error or misunderstanding.
Hard Drives and Duplication - Your hard drives do not have to be the same size in order to turn on duplication. You just need to have enough space on other drives to back up. So if you only have the standard 750GB that came with it and only a 500GB secondary, then no, you can't duplicate. But if you had two 500 GB secondaries, you could. On my first HP Server (EX470), I had the original 500GB, a two 1TB drives, and one 1.5TB drive. All of my folders were able to be duplicated. The SmartMedia server will do all of the "balancing" in it's spare time in the background.
Hard Drive erasure - Yes, if you install a hard drive and merge it in, it will be erased prior to use. So backup your data somewhere else first. This is not a negative, but just a warning to not assume your data will still be there.
Streaming - The SmartMedia has been a great tool to use in conjunction with my wireless router and other equipment such as AppleTV. All of my iTunes files are stored on the server, so any computer in my network can share the media. I have movies and music streaming to an AppleTV that is connected wirelessly also. Great to have so much flexibility and options.
Backup - Easy to set up and will wake up your computers when it's their time to be backed up.
I have no complaints about the SmartMedia and with the additional RAM and other features they packed into their 2nd generation machine, it works better than ever.
What's great about it: Easy to set up
What's not so great: Not much
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 5 for HP 750GB MediaSmart Server
Safe or Unsafe?
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: UgotitRight
from Ft. Benning, GA
on 03/26/2009
Value for Price
4.0
Ease of Use
4.0
Performance
2.0
Ease of Installation
5.0
All of the server's hard drives has to be the same size in order to perform itself backup. If not, the server cannot us a small drive to back up a bigger drive. 750GB can back up smaller drive, but a smaller drive cannot back up the 750GB. To add a drive, the server has to format it. This caused me not to be able to add my flash drives to the server. Then you also cannot take out a drive and take it to your friend's server. The server has auto erased to format it since my friend's server thought it was a new drive. It backsup my computers just fine. Then with the server connecting to the internet, does not have an optical drive, and cannot run programs, I cannot find out of how to prevent viruses of hurting the server. The media streaming is also based on your network. You can't stream with a 56K.
What's great about it: Home-made media backs up fine.
What's not so great: Bad Protection
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
-3points
0out of 3found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 6 for HP 750GB MediaSmart Server
Easy to install, easy to use, easy to upgrade
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: chuckCT
from Meriden, CT
on 03/03/2009
Value for Price
4.0
Features
4.0
Performance
5.0
Reliability
5.0
Setup: The MediaSmart server sets up extremely easily and does not require an understanding of networking or any deep technical knowledge. You just plug it in and run the setup software, and then install the client software on all computers on the network.
Client Setup: The client setup prompts you to set up automatic backups, and iTunes library sharing. It installs a shortcut on your desktop to your "shared folders" which is a standard set of Photos, Music, Videos, Printers, Public (shared file area and hosted web sites), Software (this is where client connector updates are stored) and Users (individual user account folders).
Features: Also on each computer in the startup tray, an icon is available to start the home server control panel, from which you can monitor your server, edit/add/delete backups, users, etc. as well as install available third-party add-ins. There are many add-ins available on the Microsoft web site, some of which are useful depending on what you need. I installed a Microsoft ASP web server, which allows for basic ASP functions and works just fine for web sites where database connectivity, etc. is not an issue. Among the many other plugins available are virus protection, FTP server, etc.
Remote access: You can access your server remotely via browser. I've seen it written that you can only do this via Internet Explorer, but I've never had a problem accessing via Firefox. Basically, you hit the provided URL (you can signup for your own domain name, but it's not required) and once you login you're presented with a screen listing:
Photo Webshare, which theoretically allows you to create online photo albums and upload photos. This is the weakest part of the package, because you're required to upload photos one at a time, which is clumsy and time-consuming.
Server: This allows you access to all folders on your server for which you have permissions. Downloading and uploading is permitted. Very handly for accessing any files you might need when not at home.
Computer Access: This allows you--via Microsoft's Remote Desktop Client--to remotely log in and control any computer on your network which has the required remote desktop software (typically Windows XP Professional or Windows Vista Business/Ultimate). It works just fine, but note that you need to have the remote software available and configured on your target network computer.
Upgrading: Adding additional SATA drives is a cinch. Just slide in a drive and the server does the rest. an external SATA port and a couple of USB ports are also available.
All in all, I have been extremely pleased with this little box.
What's great about it: Simple setup and upgrades, available add-ins
What's not so great: a little expensive, no built-in wifi, remote photo uploading is clunky
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Review 7 for HP 750GB MediaSmart Server
best back up DATA for our busnbiness
Customer Rating
5.0
Value for Price
5.0
Features
5.0
Performance
5.0
Reliability
5.0
this is great media back up data as i have 5 computer as i use 6cat network and this one unit can back up all 5 computer it is so easy to download and upload and it is easy to share all computer as this is most safe firewall network i have use as i high recommed to every one of my family to use this data back up as it easy to load all picture and record dvd moive as this is great machine to use and it is safe and fun to use
What's great about it: easy to set up and easy to add harddrive down the road
What's not so great: as this feature not have battery back up which need to ask
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share this review: