By Philip Churchill on October 27th, 2007
HP MediaSmart Server Data Sheet Available
Over on the HP MediaSmart Server page at HP, they now have a link to the data sheet for the EX470/EX475 models.
Thanks to Josh Pearl for the info.
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I saw this this morning but wasn’t too sure if it was really new information. Thank you, Philip. Are they getting close to announcing availability? I hope so. I also hope that they offer addtional drives to fill the two empty bays.
I hear Amazon will start taking Pre-orders on November 1st, and HP Home & Home Office will start selling them on November 15th.
They look like nice machines, but the lower-level model only has one hard drive, so out of the box the user experience is going to be impacted because you can’t do folder duplication — which means if the hard drive fails you are out of luck. That is one of the best features of WHS, in my opinion.
Hello All. Philip may want to weigh-in on this as he is planning to buy one of these guys soon. I will stick with my “Home Brewed” WHS maching for a while but I’m really, really ready for one of these and my just go ahead and bit the bullet in the next six months.
Here is what I really wanted to say. HP will not like this but you will. I highly recommend you just get the EX-470 version of the server. Why? Because if you shop carefully you can find a 500GB internal Sata drive (in the US at least… I got the one I have in my WHS at Newegg but there are other good places as well) for around $99 plus shipping. That brand new are ready to just “snap-in” to one of the Ex-470’s bays, no tools required… no joke… it is so simple. I have even seen a referbished, but like new, 750GB internal Sata II drive at Computergeeks.com $139 plus shipping, but that one only occasionally appears. This is much cheaper than buying you Hard Drives from HP either pre-installed in the EX-475 or for HP Directly.
Good comment, George. However I personally have no experience with the HP warranty. Depending on the warranty and the feelings/experience of the end user, it might be simpler just to fill the bays with whatever HP can provide at point/time of sale.
Hi all and thanks for your comments.
Bob Crook. I was told it would be released in January 2008, but if what Will says is correct, then that is excellent news. I agree will your comment a 3 and 4 drive option would be excellent and I am sure their marketing people are considering it. Buying a 1 drive HP unit and buying your own drive to put in it will most likely invalidate the warranty – we will just have to wait and see.
Will. Where did you hear about the November 15th date? Thanks.
Robert Stinnett. A one drive unit does defeat the object of the capabilities of WHS in my opinion. Now selling a one drive unit to Mr or Mrs Average, would they upgrade and put another drive in? I don’t think so.
George. Excellent advice, I am sure many will do just that, but as Bob says I hope warranty will not be an issue.