Pogoplug hands-on

The Pogoplug USB to NAS adapter is really in a class of its own. Not only does it do the obvious -- allow you to turn any USB hard drive into a NAS -- but it is also has a built in web server. But no, they didn't stop there, for $79 you also get (in our best Billy Mays voice) a web service accessible at Pogoplug.com that gives you the same convenient access to your files anywhere on the internet via either a web browser or the file manager of your choice. There is also a slick little iPhone app available for free.

Gallery: Pogoplug hands-on

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[rutsy5 @ Jan 8th 2009 6:44PM]

heh. won....

[justus87 @ Jan 8th 2009 6:46PM]

That sounds uhhh.... awesome!

[Sneakz @ Jan 8th 2009 6:53PM]

+1 For Billy Mays reference

[Pretol @ Jan 8th 2009 6:46PM]

Hire an editor for god's sake. Or at least read it once, after you type it.

[MadMike @ Jan 8th 2009 6:50PM]

It could be sarcastic, you know - like the south Korean currency...

[MadMike @ Jan 8th 2009 6:47PM]

actually, that's not half bad (assuming it doesn't suck). It's a novel and useful idea. May be slow for HD media streaming use, but for basic files and at $80. I'd buy one (won!) :-D

[The Golden Wombat @ Jan 8th 2009 6:47PM]

A quick google would have told you that his name is Billy Mays, not Maze.
Quality Journalism, init?

[Joseph @ Jan 8th 2009 7:38PM]

between that and "class of it's won" I have to agree.

[Byrdman @ Jan 8th 2009 6:49PM]

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!!! CALL NOW AND WE'LL TRIPLE THE OFFER!!!

[digitalsoup @ Jan 8th 2009 7:00PM]

Does this thing turn your lights off when you clap?

[Rick V. @ Jan 8th 2009 11:48PM]

^ Ha - that was great.

[Karl Viklund @ Jan 8th 2009 6:53PM]

Ugly? :)

[Mario @ Jan 8th 2009 7:01PM]

More like FUGLY.

Still, the great concept more than makes up for the poor aesthetics.

[leo @ Jan 9th 2009 2:26PM]

yeah Uber-FUGLY but you and I were both thinking the same thing - the features SEEM great, let's hope it works out all right and I may just get one (if they're available in the UK)... would be awesome if eventually you could hook up your external by FW400/800/eSATA too!

I'm getting real sick of stuff that looks slick but has serious design issues (MBP with Glossy screen, non-removable battery, no FW400 port - I'M LOOKING AT YOU!)... and that's coming from a self confessed apple fanboi.

[matt @ Jan 8th 2009 9:10PM]

thanks for rushing out the late breaking news. i rather well photographed and informative news fast. then well edited news slower.

"The Pogoplug USB to NAS adapter is really in a class of its won."

should be

"The Pogoplug USB to NAS adapter is really in a class of its own."

no biggie.

[Richard Spies @ Jan 8th 2009 7:01PM]

Not bad -- but I'd like to see a similar gadget with an eSATA port. I'd hate to have USB as a bottleneck in the data path.

[Will @ Jan 8th 2009 11:36PM]

No such bottleneck unless you're running wired gigabit ethernet, which is still uncommon.

USB 2.0 is rated at 480Mbps, typical ethernet is rated at 100Mbps. Though wireless usually runs at half its rated speed or less, 802.11 draft-N is still only rated at 300Mbps, 802.11a/g at 54Mbps, and 802.11b is rated at 11Mbps.

eSATA would be wasted capacity, though it might be convenient if you were stuck with an enclosure with only an eSATA connector.

[Marco @ Jan 9th 2009 3:32PM]

Hopefully like many less than sightly girls, this will be smart with what it does.

[duhtrev @ Jan 8th 2009 7:58PM]

Can I plug a USB Hub into it with a bunch of USB HD's and access all of them?

[TheHauli @ Jan 13th 2009 2:55AM]

The Pogoplug dude says yes in this interview; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAF8zdxmXbU

[caddie @ Jan 8th 2009 7:16PM]

Whats on the back a plug? .......... umm I think I will need a new power bar. Seriously though - are you supposed to plug this into a wall and have your HDD on the floor with a USB and Ethernet cable running from it?

[m @ Jan 8th 2009 9:26PM]

maybe it has a built-in power-line networking adapter? that would be cool. or is it just imitating the apple airport express? seriously, how does this thing work? details, please!

[Ian Whelan (JOIN BAND!) @ Jan 8th 2009 7:45PM]

That's Billy, Billy Mays.

[SlappyWag @ Jan 8th 2009 8:43PM]

Ron Popeil would be PROUD of this thing. It slices, it dices!

Engaget's WON-ton dishreguard for speling maeks me laf.

[nicleT @ Jan 8th 2009 9:02PM]

Is it what there was in the "bag full of laughs"?

[Shadowfox952 @ Jan 8th 2009 9:02PM]

What a manly bracelet that is...

unless it's a woman. a very hairy woman

[m @ Jan 8th 2009 9:46PM]

it's called a "watch." google it.

[bs @ Jan 8th 2009 10:36PM]

CompUSA sold something like this years ago - a 4-port USB hub with a NIC. Great idea but the driver support was horrible. If this works it's handy but if it requires drivers/lame software to install, feh.

[Joshkirk @ Jan 8th 2009 11:32PM]

can you plug a USB hub into it and then have several USB hard drives connected at the same time to this device? If so, I will buy. Rock on!

[NukeAssault @ Jan 9th 2009 12:49AM]

One could only hope. It would have my attention if it did.

[Brian @ Jan 9th 2009 4:18AM]

Will it work with the rest of my X10 stuff?

[Brian @ Jan 9th 2009 4:20AM]

Man, what is going on with the X10 website. So confused.

[m-p{3} @ Jan 9th 2009 12:29PM]

Now that someone is holding it, it seems bigger than I imagined..

[bambooken @ Jan 11th 2009 3:39PM]

Their website implies that to access you drive you need to log into my.pogoplug.com. I'm wondering if this will require subscribing to my.pogoplug.com ?

Could there be a hitch?

[dan @ Feb 24th 2009 5:58PM]

.

[djangofan @ Feb 24th 2009 6:21PM]

they need a dual-nic version running SmoothWall Express firewall.

[vince @ Feb 27th 2009 2:34PM]

so is this fast enough for streaming 1080p content to a media player(Popcorn Hour)?