mCubed's Atom-powered RipNAS combines CD ripper with NAS drive

Not that we haven't seen Atom-based NAS devices before, but we've yet to see one with an integrated optical drive. Looking to serve a unique niche that still hasn't transferred that CD collection to HDD, the RipNAS combines an audio CD ripper with oodles of network-accessible storage space, and as if that wasn't enough, there's also media streaming abilities baked in. The whole unit is fanless in nature and requires no external keyboard / PC in order to rip files to your favorite lossless format, retrieve all associated metadata and automatically re-rip tracks if errors are detected. Initially, the box is being served with 640GB of internal storage space along with a number of USB ports for external expansion. Sadly, such a specialized box won't run you cheap, with the sticker hovering around €1,095 ($1,415) right now in Europe.

[John @ Feb 9th 2009 5:45PM]

so does it only rip cd's or can it rip dvd's as suggested by the image?

[The Angry Intern @ Feb 9th 2009 5:45PM]

i was thinking that, too. It says it's only for CD's but the picture clearly shows DVDs

[mere @ Feb 9th 2009 5:48PM]

ed zachary

i was thinking the same thing.
bait & switch.

read the fine print

[Major4Play @ Feb 9th 2009 7:35PM]

Shhhussshhhh. Nobody say DVD the RIAA are listening.....

[Brad @ Feb 9th 2009 8:54PM]

Shhhussshhhh. Nobody say DVD the RIAA are listening.....


I'd assume you mean the MPAA? The RIAA doesn't do anything with movies, and the only DVDs they care about are the recordings of concerts.

[scott @ Feb 9th 2009 5:46PM]

Um, those are DVDs. Am I missing something here?

[MikeK @ Feb 9th 2009 5:49PM]

Why the heck does this show a bunch of DVD covers when it's described as ripping CDs?

[Juan Marquez @ Feb 9th 2009 5:48PM]

For $1,415 this is more of a NaS ( Not a Smart choice) solution, when for the same money you can build yourself a bigger (feature-wise), larger, and more efficient home-server solution

[AJ in the East Bay @ Feb 9th 2009 5:51PM]

True, but there is something to be said for this device's simplicity, if it really does what they say it does.

[mere @ Feb 9th 2009 5:50PM]

spray paint a mac mini for the same effect
only awesomer

[Juan Marquez @ Feb 9th 2009 5:51PM]

Or and Apple TV looks like this RIPNas ripped off the apple tv or better yet the mac-mini ;P

[chuuchdizzle @ Feb 9th 2009 5:50PM]

this is DUMB...

[Amir @ Feb 9th 2009 5:59PM]

what's with the stuffed animal ?

[Magallanes @ Feb 9th 2009 6:39PM]

Im not sure, its looks like a bunny but, does bunny have whisker?.

[GingerFox @ Feb 9th 2009 6:14PM]

This is stupid for the same price you can get a really good full pc AND a NAS storage drive, and to top it off i looks like dvds in the pic when it only says CD's,

[Dean @ Feb 9th 2009 6:20PM]

It's strictly for CDs and their software works as advertised. I use their WHS plug-in and it works great. I rip my CDs simultaneously to FLAC (for the home theaters/critical listening) and MP3 for mobile devices. It gives you a membership to for pay online tagging services which gives high-resolution artwork (500 x 500). Really, it's idiot proof and saves me having to do anything manual. I would love a DVD ripping program that worked as seamlessly... my movies is close.

[DeoWulf @ Feb 9th 2009 6:32PM]

No-one seems to find it odd there is a stuffed bunny in the picture. Also, DVDs.

[MaxSMoke @ Feb 9th 2009 6:33PM]

It would be cool if it did DVD's. But I guess the morally bankrupt film industry would have some beef against it, even though that's clearly a protected, "Fair Use" usage.

[Eddie W @ Feb 9th 2009 6:34PM]

You could do the same thing with a specialized Linux distribution and the MSI barebones nettop... you could probably make it dual boot to OSX. I doubt it would cost much more than $300. I haven't checked this out yet, but vortexbox looks promising.

[Casper42 @ Feb 9th 2009 7:10PM]

I'll do you one better.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/qnaps-new-4-bay-atom-based-ts-439-pro-turbo-nas/

Use that with your custom Linux Distro and add a USB DVD Drive.

Atom = straight up x86
945 Chipset = easily supported by any recent Linux Dist

[Nick @ Feb 9th 2009 9:36PM]

Yeah. I was thinking the same thing. This box is stupid-overpriced at $1500+

[Nick @ Feb 9th 2009 9:37PM]

Meant $1400+. Point still stands

[Jesse @ Feb 9th 2009 7:26PM]

Is the bunny blocking the cooling vents?

[fraew @ Feb 9th 2009 8:02PM]

So; why doesn't this thing have audio outputs? Sure; having a NAS makes it a suitable streaming host, but you still need a PC to output it; why not direct to your stereo? Call me when this comes with DVD ripping abilities; audio and video outputs.

[The Number 1 Cubs Fan @ Feb 9th 2009 9:13PM]

4 Questions:

1. Will it blend?
2. Will it play Doom?
3. Is it better than iPhone?
4. Does it rip Nas CD's faster than other rippers?

[Vandrook @ Feb 9th 2009 9:36PM]

sweet, can i get royalties for owning an apple cube? What's the big deal here? Seriously. I can make this for like $200. So lame...

[loog @ Feb 10th 2009 1:01AM]

Seems it can PLAY dvds, so the picture might be considered "correct". Still, fishy attempt.

[m-p{3} @ Feb 10th 2009 8:36AM]

$1415?Forget it, I'll build a RAID-1 NAS myself for half the price.

[Riley @ Feb 11th 2009 10:28PM]

is it realy necessary to have the cd drive, it takes like 10 minutes to rip a cd, even less if it's lossless, and maybe 30 seconds to send it over the network to the NAS

[Riley @ Feb 11th 2009 10:29PM]

arg, my stupid L key is t3h busted

[agillis @ Feb 12th 2009 8:55PM]

VortexBox will do the same as this system. I'm sure the user interface is a little more polished but I don't think that justifies the price. I have built atom based VortexBox machines with 1TB drives for around $400.