Pogoplug review
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Apr 6th 2009 12:27PM
posted Apr 6th 2009 12:27PM
Setup
The setup for a Pogoplug seems straightforward enough: just plug in any NTFS, FAT32, non-journaled HFS+, ext2, or ext3 drive into the box, plug the box into a router, follow a quick setup guide, and away you go. Easy enough, right? Yes -- but not without a few minor hitches. Our first problem was a basic one -- why do we need to physically plug this into a router? Not only did it make finding a spot for the box and the drive that much harder, but in an age where everything is going wireless, this seems like a bit of a step backwards. Secondly, when it came time to input the access code for the Pogoplug -- inconveniently located on the side of the adapter -- we had to run over to where our router was situated and copy it down. Kind of a pain, given how many other ways there are to handle something like this.
Regardless, once that code went in and we created an account on the company's "My Pogoplug" page, we were all set.
In use
The Pogoplug definitely works as advertised. In fact, we can't think of another box that makes it this easy to get web access to your data. Once you log into your account, you're presented with your drive just as if you're browsing to it on your desktop (though obviously via a web interface). The layout of the site is clean and simple, and makes navigating your content fairly simple. From the portal, you can browse files, view some video or image files, listen to audio, and download those files to your local drive. If you have write access, you can also do basic management like deleting, renaming, or moving files.
You can also pick specific folders and share them with others, providing a quick way to give access to files for viewing or downloading. The app sends a link to the people you choose to share with, and you can also create an RSS feed of particular folders.
Additionally, you can download a small piece of software that lets you mount the networked drive as you would anything else on your computer, and there's an iPhone app that lets you get at those files in almost exactly the same way you would via the web. The iPhone app doesn't seem to be bug free; it didn't display entire lists of files properly, though on the upside, it allows you to listen to some audio in the background (of the Pogoplug app that is), view compatible image and video files, and download files locally to the phone (though they're only viewable in the app).
Wrap-up
All-in-all, we like the Pogoplug a lot, but we do have a couple of quibbles. Mainly, we wish this were a WiFi enabled device, which would spare some cables and setup pain. Additionally, it would be nice to see a device of this nature with multiple USB ports instead of just the one -- yes, you can attach a hub, but you're already dealing with a mess of lines as it is. Still, for $99, the ability to turn a random drive into not only a network-accessible device, but a remotely-accessible device is huge, and we plan on putting it into heavy rotation around here.
WIll it blend? But seriously, DLNA support?
And where can I buy it?
You did a review of a NAS device without a speed test?
I agree, all I really want to know from review of this product is the speed. The other information is available on pogo's site. My main concern with the Pogo plug is whether it's fast enough to stream HD files (.mkv) to media adapter(i.e popcorn hour, apple tv).
I don't get it. What's the difference between this and a NAS? $99 plus external USB HDD. Would it be cheaper to get a NAS device that allows you to add any size of internal HDD? And NAS allows you to mount in both Windows and Mac easily.
Well. You might just happen to have a spare ginourmous external drive handy. In this case, it's cheaper than a NAS.
Your NAS wouldn't be up for use on the web without additional configuring.
uhm.. prolly its the fact that u can acess it anywhere on the net..... more than just a NAS
I see, using their service to access anywhere. Sounds like a good place to hack in. Let me give it a shot once the service is up and running...
Can you plug in a hub and a lot of Hard drives? That would be amazing.
Seriously fincan,
Google is your friend:
http://store.pogoplug.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=POGO-E01
Is this drive available if my internet goes down? What if you don't want all your data available over the internet. Is there a local use only option?
No, if your internet goes down it's not available because the pogoplug ISN'T MADE OF MAGIC.
This IS local use only.
from reading it i believe it is also a NAS so if u were locally connect then probably yes
Wait a sec, you say it works through their site? They have access to all your files as a reward for you buying this thing? What the hell?
Also: It's a hundred bucks? Say what now? Sorry but there are better and more privacy respecting ways to do such things that make a whole lot more sense to me.
Name some. I'm interested.
I was going to flame you because i thought it was a web interface for accessing files and not website...but IT IS A WEBSITE....
what a dumb idea, sounds like a data mining scam to me. NAS systems are cheap enough, and so are USBNAS systems
@ calereneau
this does the SAME THING
http://sewelldirect.com/Addonics-USB-to-Ethernet-Hard-Drive-NAS-Adapter_specs.asp?source=froogle&utm_source=Froogle&utm_medium=cse
Yeah I thought a website interface too initially, something you run on your own system, that would make sense, perhaps have an option for a website on their server for those that are absolutely not capable of running one and don't' care anything about privacy, but not out of the box like this surely.
Still, interesting for hackers too, once you hacked in you can get not only engadget's secrets (and see all their relatives and friends andsoforth), but of all kinds of celebrity fools that bought into it will have their personal stuff all over it.
As for a reply to the 'what alternative', well you can buy a router with USB drive support for less than a hundred I'm pretty sure for starters, or you can buy an USB ports expansion cards and run a little software to network the drives attached, free software I might add, all for what? $40?
Sweet. I'd rather have a zoo of cable behind my desk(where my router is), than hooked into my laptop. One big question does this mean we can stream the files, like I have my desktop which I stream the files to my laptop, so when I hook my iPod and Zune up to my laptop the music and video from the desktop sync through the laptop to my devices. It would be awesome if I could stream those via the web, because I'm away from home alot. This could be a godsend, or another thing to toss into my junk drawer(where crapgadgets and old tech goes to die).
I was hoping the price was the same or less the Addonics' USB-to-NAS adapter (also previewed here) but it looks like the interface is smoother.
The lack of Wifi does bite, but I suppose a $129 version down the road will solve that while simultaneously annoying all the early adopters.
I'll take one though- its cool.
To me, better than WiFi would be PoE. The need to provide 120v for this *plus* the drive really limits where I could use this. The PoUSB drives that I have require 2 free USB ports.
Otherwise, nice!
Wow, this is a potential security and information disclosure nightmare waiting to happen.
What type of security and encryption is there around this whole thing?
WANT.
Is there any way to use the files on this device to populate an iTunes library that you can share on any computer with iTunes and an internet connection?
The internet access only through their website is Fail. What happens if pogoplug goes out of business or decides to start charging for that feature (subscription)? Seconding Wwhat's concerns about giving them access to my files.
Thats very expensive for what it does considering theres no extra features such as bittorent support,
i think il wait for the new fon router which does the same thing for a hell of a lot cheaper and with way more features
Is there any actual practical reason this thing is housed in a plug like this or is it just another gimmick? Stuff like this tend to get hot and then components start malfunctioning...for what? The length of a power cord?
It only makes sense if it doubled as a LAN over power line solution.
The plug on the pogo comes out, similar to how the old Apple AC adapters did for different region plugs. You can either plug it into the wall directly, or use the included 'regular' extension power cable..
People, people! This is nothing new...the only thing that this device gives you that a regular NAS doesn't is you get a web interface and access to your files outside your network...
Big deal!
Instead of wasting your money on this stupid thing, spend half that amount and get a REAL NAS interface:
http://www.addonics.com/products/nas/nasu2.asp
With this device, you're not limited to just storage devices, but it can also serve as a print server!
And it has a bult in torrent client!
And it can act as a media server so that you can access your media files on your xBox 360.
Full user access control to manage user read/write access to folders!
And the best thing about this device?
$55.
in my book, this is a "no brainer" that makes the pogo device a loser.
Don't be scammed by imitators...if you need a NAS, get a NAS, not an imatator!
Ed
web/gadget guru
My only question with the addonics adapter is does it support hubs, its fairly useless if it only supports a single device. The pogo specifically states that it supports hubs, so while it may not support printers and hdds together, you can at least have multiple hdds attached. From all the things I have seen about those tiny nas adapters is that they only support a single device. So while it may be 55$ that also makes it sort of useless for a complete nas solution compared to this.
That thing is sweet. 55$ unPnP+BT client NAS? Sign me up!
Too bad some of us want this for more than just a NAS, as the device lets us access our files from OUTSIDE the network (aka while I'm at work i can log in and drag and drop files to my work from my home computer, and vice versa, without any remote desktop complications)
Yes, the option you supplied works great if you are a garden gnome/workaholic and don't leave your house/office. But for anything outside of there your Addonics device fails terribly.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the most critical thing about this NAS is that it actually supports something other than FAT32. I don't recall many other NAS solutions that support even NTFS, let alone EXT3 and HFS.
What I want is a dual-NIC PogoPlug running Smoothwall Express .
Can this thing take multiple USB HD? I guess this devise would be useless if I get a wireless router with USB port?...because I'm planning to get one.
"Additionally, you can download a small piece of software that lets you mount the networked drive as you would anything else on your computer"
why do you need special software to mount it?
Proprietary is FAIL!
I'm a tad concerned about this as well. I'm wondering if it's basically all just samba, and the program is just a fancy front end to make it easier for non-techs to get to their data via a pretty wizard.
I don't see any point in creating an entirely proprietary way of making the file system available when it's based on linux and you pretty much have everything you need. I'm still looking for some more technical details as to what they are doing in this regard.
Very important point raised here re: data security and the use of a website to access files remotely. I hadn't thought of that.
I don't need to access my files via a website, but the one great feature I'm interested on this is the ability to access videos over wifi for viewing on an iPod Touch.
Maybe some more tech-savvy community members might be able to recommend another way to achieve this?
Another point I've heard raised about this product is that if the company goes out of business, you're SOL.
Anyone seriously considering one of these should take a look at the Linksys NSLU2. It's the same sort of thing, but has been around for ages, and has an amazing user community. It got discontinued last year but they're still fairly easy to find.
"why do we need to physically plug this into a router?"
- BECAUSE WI-FI IS F**KING SLOW.
- Cheaper without Wi-Fi
What's the point of using a hard drive that is capable of speeds that Wi-Fi can't match? Sure with N it's no problem but seriously why would you want to place this in a random place. Go playing hide and seek around your house and find this behind your bed!?!?
You keep all devices attached and close to the router for ease of access and it just makes it a whole lot easier.
Yeah, I think WiFi for a storage device is a lame idea as well. I like that the PogoPlug has Gigabit, unlike the Addonics unit people have mentioned above which is a 10/100 device. I don't know if it's worth the price premium though.
I'll wait for prices to drop - there should be competitors on the market soon.
How do you continue to get access to your data when Pogoplug goes out of business?
The service Pogoplug provides is to give you a front end to make your data available on the internet, similar to how similar services like Orb work.
If Pogoplug goes out of business, you'll still have the NAS capability locally.
Probably the simplest device for the average user I've seen. More advanced Linux users can already access their remote files straight through their local file managers with a bit of sshfs and autofs magic, but you can't beat the plug and play simplicity of the pogoplug.
this does the same job that the $15 Dell Optiplex GX1 with a pentium 2 does. wait, mine supports 4 drives without a hub.
In all honesty, though, who are they trying to sell this to? There's so many other options out there that make more sense to me - like a Ubuntu/Old computer combo, Windows Home Server, Buffalo NAS(ses?). If you're a nerd, you have other options. If you're not computer savvy, you're not spending $99 for a make-a-usb-drive-ethernetable solution.
Old pcs consume too much electricity and are too noisy. This is more powerful than an old pc, too.
I'm interested in that $55 NAS if I can install linux on it, though :-P
So, you say in the review that you can plug in a hub - how many HDDs does it support and how do you see them - as separate drives or as one? If I could plug in a 7 port hub and fill it with drives, this would be an instant purchase.
Why not just get a SheevaPlug for $99, put Linux on it and do whatever you want!
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9634061300.html