http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/
Even better... barebones options. Load whatever drives you want!!]]>Apr 10th 2009 10:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2009/04/01/hp-announces-gx3297-mediasmart-server/]]>Apr 10th 2009 11:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 11th 2009 1:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 10th 2009 11:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/
MEDIASMART? BRILLIANTSMART!!!11!1!]]>Apr 10th 2009 11:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/media,
smart,
touch,
center.]]>Apr 11th 2009 12:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 13th 2009 1:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/
WMConnect isn't a great option bc 1. the interface is junk in comparison and 2. there are insane limitations over the video/audio codecs supported. There is no way to stream h.264 with AC3... so IMO, it is not an option.]]>Apr 10th 2009 11:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 10th 2009 11:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/
Thanks, but I'm using a mac. I don't want to buy another computer just to get media center going.

Plus, PP2 just enabled the PC to see the files on the WHS more easily... the PC still needs to be running in order to use Xbox as a media center extender. To me, that seems like a terrible waste of electricity since there is no reason the Xbox and WHS can't handle the job.]]>Apr 10th 2009 11:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 10th 2009 11:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 11th 2009 1:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 11th 2009 5:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 12th 2009 12:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/
This is a similar Scenario to the PS3- neither will support direct H264/X264 (well- unless you re-wrap the PS3 content in their VOB container). There is the option of installing a transcoder on the server (such as TVersity, Orb, etc) but this usually looks like crap (compared to the original format)

Game consoles are for playing games- the ability to play movies was mostly an afterthought and a way to sell a few more consoles. I use a Popcorn Hour (the old A-100) with my WHS and it will play everything I put on a SMB share from WHS- including muti-channel MKVs (and ISOs of DVDs)]]>Apr 18th 2009 10:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 10th 2009 11:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4royOLtvmQ]]>Apr 10th 2009 11:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 10th 2009 11:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 10th 2009 11:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/
]]>Apr 10th 2009 11:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/
And correct me if I'm wrong, but there is even huge lag issues when you have media center running... When I use boot camp to get into Windows 7 and run media center, the performance is awful. I've read that this is due to cover art being stored on the server. The workaround is to install the art on the PC and the video file on the server.... this is just really messy. MS needs to do a lot of work to get this product working the way it is envisioned to work.]]>Apr 10th 2009 11:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 11th 2009 1:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 10th 2009 11:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 14th 2009 1:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/i have a 500 gb time capsule as my router. i need more space so i was thinking about either this or a drobo. but i dont want to have to spend money on a drobo share to be able to stream media, thats just more money to spend.
i thought this windows servers did stream media straight to a xbox/ps3 without the need of a vista pc.
i dont even have a pc. im a mac user.
i need some input.]]>Apr 10th 2009 11:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 10th 2009 11:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 11th 2009 5:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 11th 2009 10:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/the difference between a drobo and a HP HMS is that HMS has a full version of windows that you can Remote Desktop in to. You can also Run DCPROMO and promote the HMS to a domain controller if you wanted. Essentially HMS is a full version of Windows server 2003 and supports pretty much everything server 2003 has to offer. Where as the Drobo is just a Network Attached Storage (NAS). i don't own a drobo but i am pretty sure its just for Storage and backup. Where as the HMS is a full blown server that can do pretty much anything a regular full server can do. (I.E. host websites, Remote Desktop, Domains, User control, User Access, etc).
Only draw back for HP HMS is that it is not raided. meaning you have to tell it to copy important files on to a second drive for redundancy.
]]>Apr 11th 2009 2:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/
That is actually far from the truth. They striped a lot of function from it. If they had not, many mid-size businesses would switch from their current structure. The sheer price difference between Server 2003 Standard and Home Server should tell you a lot about the difference in functionality.

Don't go getting it twisted. You CAN promote it, but it won't get you far:
http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/whssuggestions/thread/daf1be91-6932-49fc-af06-5a672022d2f4
http://social.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/whssoftware/thread/e009d524-f601-471a-8aaf-f8857f5201a5

"From the EULA:



d. Functionality Limitations.

· Active Directory - You may not use the server
software as a domain controller or otherwise make
use of DCPromo.exe. You also may not join the
server software to any Active Directory domain.
"

It will start having problems.]]>Apr 12th 2009 3:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/
· Active Directory - You may not use the server software as a domain controller or otherwise make use of DCPromo.exe. You also may not join the server software to any Active Directory domain.

AGREED:

I attempted to join my HP MS to my SBS and, well, it was ugly for a while. I now have access to the data, though I am no using the Connector software (didn't want to use it anyway...) ]]>Apr 12th 2009 5:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Too much junk on this blog unfortunately.
I have the HP MediaSmart server and it works but:
- There are a million codecs and it is a toss what codec the Xbox and PS3 will support
- There are several attempts to solve this issue like Tversity. Unfortunately I have not had a great experience with non yet
- Why do I see the Video/photos/Music menu in the extenders when I am in Photos, or Videos, or Music. One extra silly step
- When you have a large music library it gets very difficult and slow to navigate, using Twonky, Windows Connect, PlayON, Tversity, you name it.
- With Tversity it feels under powered. Should we upgrade to 4Gb Ram?
]]>May 21st 2009 4:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 10th 2009 11:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 11th 2009 2:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 11th 2009 10:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 12th 2009 5:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/
It runs like a charm. The only thing I wish is that I did not have to deal with a PC. Why on earth HP did not make the controls for this thing as a Web Interface so that you could run it on a MAC without any windows intervention, lord only knows.

Lets think about it, there are lots of people who are MAC only people who would like it.

As far as it crashing? Not once, Runs like a charm.]]>Apr 10th 2009 11:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 11th 2009 2:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 11th 2009 3:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/]]>Apr 11th 2009 3:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 10th 2009 11:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/
I already bought a Qnap 409 TS Pro, the Read/Write (20-30 read, 12-15 write) speed were terrible plus the initial formatting of the disks took nearly 2 days with 2x1TB Samsung EcoGreen disks.

The WHS i got now has 4 TB, formatting (and installing) in under an hour, full read/write speeds via gbit LAN (actually the hard disks are not faster, the system and LAN could pump a lot more data than 65 mb/s read/write) and the cost were actually the same or less (the Qnap hadn't any disks included).
]]>Apr 11th 2009 6:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 11th 2009 11:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.amahi.org]]>Apr 10th 2009 11:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 10th 2009 11:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 10th 2009 11:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 10th 2009 11:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/Apr 10th 2009 11:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/
http://www.wegotserved.co.uk/ ]]>Apr 11th 2009 6:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/10/how-would-you-change-hps-mediasmart-server-ex485-ex487/http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2009/04/01/hp-announces-gx3297-mediasmart-server/]]>Apr 10th 2009 11:30PM