Reviews for HP EX470 MediaSmart Home Server (AMD Live, Windows Home Server, 500 GB Hard Drive)

Total reviews: 5 of 65
Average Rating:

• Nice, but not well integrated with other HP products | Rating: | Date: 2008-08-15

  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).

• Great home file server | Rating: | Date: 2008-08-11

  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.

• No Adequate 64-bit Support | Rating: | Date: 2008-08-10

  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.

• peace of mind and a joy to use. | Rating: | Date: 2008-08-03

  there is no substitute for a Windows home server like this! Some of the other Linux-based products do not do what this does! Windows homes server does full system automatic backups every night of all the computers in my home. That means that of Windows goes down on one of my PCs, I can simply insert a disc and all of that information is retrieved directly from the server and I'm back up and running with no downtime. Because of the HP media smart home server, I don't worry about anything. My advice is to save up and buy this product! You will not regret that you did! It even works on Macs running the Windows environment. And if you need to access a file and you're not at home, you can simply go to the dedicated website for your server and retrieve the file automatically. And by the way, that infamous bug you may have heard about will be patched within a few weeks, as Microsoft has completed the necessary update and simply has to push it out to the automatic update service. So don't worry, just buy the product. HP will stand behind you and you will finally have peace of mind because all of your PCs will be backed up daily. Accept no substitutes! Buy this product.it is expandable. It is simple to use and setup. I don't know why any home would ever want to be without one.

• HP Windows Home Server | Rating: | Date: 2008-07-31

  This HP server is quite innovative but the operating system of Windows Home Server is just simply not ready for the road show. The OS is full of bugs and the long promised service pack 1 that supposedly will correct the issues and add features has long been delayed for over a year. Don't think of buying the bad combination if you are not a power user and knowledgeable with network server technology.