Should I Buy A HP MediaSmart Server?

Everton | Nov 09, 2007 | View Comments


HP MediaSmart ServerI have been thinking about getting a HP MediaSmart Server as a solution to my home networking needs ever since I went to a HP demonstration a few months ago,  My home network has grown a bit out of control over the last year or so, and I need to find a better expandable solution to share files between my devices and also out of the home.

At the moment I have the following setup:

Front Room

  • HTPC with 2.5TB of storage (replaced a modded Xbox)
  • Xbox 360
  • Playstation 3
  • AV system
  • Netgear Router
  • Key Uses: Music, TV shows, Movies

Study

  • Main PC with decent speakers
  • Main Uses: Work, Music, Occasional TV Shows

Bedroom

  • Modded Xbox (broken at moment) -going to replace with media center laptop (getting a freebie!)
  • Main Uses: TV Shows, Movies

‘Mobile’ Devices

  • Laptop
  • Nokia N95
  • Sony PSP

The PC in the study used to act as a ’server’ by holding all my files, but once I built the HTPC I decided it was silly having two power-hungry machines running at the same time so I currently store all my videos on the front room machine, and a copy of my music library on both machines. This causes me problems as sometimes I do want to watch a show or film in the study while I work, which means I have to go and turn the front room HTPC on.

I have the same problem when I want to watch or listen to something in the bedroom, as I have to go and turn on one of the other machines to do so.  Things are only going to get worse in the future as I get more connected devices, so I want to put a good solution in place now that can grow with my connected home, with all my files stored in one place.

The HP MediaSmart Server would allow me to centralise all my files in one place in a nice energy efficient device, as well as providing a remote access solution which I lack at the moment. I also like the small form factor, which would allow me to tuck it away in a corner somewhere.

However, I’m convinced I must be able to get a better solution for $800. What are my other options? Should I build my own system instead of buying a HP MediaSmart Server? I’m not keen on tackling a Linux based system as I want something I can either configure quickly, or that just works out the box.


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About the Author: Everton is based in London and has worked in the internet and mobile space for over ten years now, and before that worked in corporate strategy and consulting. He has a degree in Economics from Cambridge University.He also writes for Windows 7 News, Windows 8 News and One Tip A Day.

  • Richard
    Just a thought though,
    I have seen this HP MediaSmart Server in action in my local PCWorld a few weeks ago and I was impressed with the size of it and it can take 4 SATA300 drives up to 1TB. a couple of USB2 high speed ports on the back and wireless to boot! And in such a small footprint.

    I'm going to be hard pressed to find a mATX case to rival this for compactnes.

    My current beast is about four times bigger than this device and it uses a lot less electricity than mine does too.

    The march of technology is getting smaller and smaller every week.

    Mind you, the store assistant didn't have a clue about the software on it, only that it was a HP home server and as of last weekend PCWorld won't be selling it as there is no demand for it. Ho Hum....
  • Ryan
    Richard, you mention the mediasmart server can support 4 hard drives up to 1TB? I was planning on buying 2tb drives for mine...where did you get this info? I'd really like to know if it won't be able to support 2TB drives.
  • Richard
    Having been where you are now, I can suggest a very cheap option, for less than 125 quid GBP, you can buy a cheap second hand full tower with at least 6 HDD bays and three CD/DVDRom bays (plus two floppy bays). The mobo usually has at least two dual IDE controllers and possible one or two SATA150/300 ports. Install FreeNAS from Sourceforge.net and within an hour, you can have a home server for a damn site less than the HP offering. Add A PCI IDE/SATA Controller and you are set. ADD your HDD's and away you go. SAMBA server and print server all in one. once set up, my machine is in the loft (nice and cool) with no monitor keyboard or mouse to get in the way, just an ethernet cable to my router and a web-browser to configure it. Right now i have a K870MSA mobo with 1 pci controller and six 300Gb HDD all Samsung (reliable and quiet) all configured as one drive. It stores all my videos, pictures and music plus all my created files like documents etc. Ok, with the machine in the loft you cannot use the printer server side of it, but at least it is out of the way. But the idea is sound as a pound. All it takes is the time to read the instructions and follow the suggestions on the website. It is easy, 'cos if I can do it, anyone with an ounce of common sense can too.
  • Agreed. You get the best possible mix- if you know what you're doing
  • i think it is better to build you own. Engadget has nice article on it.
    http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build...
  • Id rather purchase parts separately. The stock servers that Lenovo, HP and Asus churn out never impressed me.

    But when I pick my parts - like an Asus 8800GT video card, QuadCore MB, 4GB RAM - I end up with a vastly superior behemoth at about the same price.

    Don't buy the brand. Buy the performance.

    Go man!
  • I'm eventually going to need to look to having a server in my HTPC set-up, currently I just keep adding hard disks to my main desktop PC which is always turned on, so every other computer in the house can access the content.

    It would be great to see your set-up sometime Everton!
  • 360gamr
    Where are the pics of your setups? Sounds like you have a fantastic geek house, we wanna see!
  • Adam Pond
    First of all, I wouldn't suggest that you buy the 1 TB version - buy the 500 GB version for $599 and then buy another 500 MB Hard driver for just over $100 from someplace like Newegg. That's what I'm going to do - My setup isn't nearly as complex as yours and I can't wait to buy a Media Server - just is going to make my life a lot easier for watching and using my media at home in different areas as well as on the road :)
  • why not just hook some small hardware NAS servers up with your router. Most of them can act as a FTP server, Bit torrent client, Samba like server.
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