HP LX195 MediaSmart Home Server
Posted on 02. Feb, 2010 by admin in Home Entertainments
- Sleek, slim home server with 640 GB of storage for easy backups and media streaming in your home over over the Internet
- Remotely streams photos and music to any Internet-connected PC or Mac; upload photos to Flickr, Facebook and more
- Network-based backup of Windows PCs and Macs using Apple's Time Machine
- Expandable via four USB 2.0 ports for connecting to external USB hard drives
- Processor: Intel 1.6 GHZ Atom Processor 230
$224.99
Product Description
Built to Serve Your Digital Life! The HP MediaSmart Server LX195 is a home server that can automatically backup and protect your digital memories, centralize your media and content for sharing with friends and family, and enable you to enjoy your digital media while at home or away. Powered by Microsoft Windows Home Server software and Intel's Atom 1.6 GHZ Processor 230. Network-based backup of PCs using Windows Home Server and Macs using Apple¿s Time machine. Centralize your digital life for sharing with friends and family. The HP MediaSmart Server will automatically centralize your digital media for sharing with family and friends, and enable you to enjoy your digital media while at home or away. The HP Media Collector conveniently schedules the server to copy and centralize your Windows PC media files and libraries (including iTunes and playlists). Using an Internet-connected PC, you can quickly publish the photos on your server and/or directly to popular websites such as Snapfish, Flickr, Picasa Web Albums, and even Facebook. Serve up your digital life for friends, family and business associates! The HP Photo Viewer allows you to create photo albums for sharing with family and friends. You can even designate certain albums as ¿private¿ and available only for people who you choose to share.Amazon.com Product Description
Automatically back up and protect your digital memories, centralize your media and content for sharing with friends and family, and enjoy your digital media while at home or away with the HP LX195 MediaSmart Home Server. The LX195 is the first HP MediaSmart to be powered by the efficient Intel Atom processor, which helps use less energy and save you money on your electrical bills. A Sleep Mode conserves energy and saves you money in more ways than one. The built-in sleep mode consumes only 3W of power, and the server can take on many of your PC's responsibilities, enabling you to turn off your individual computers to further save energy and money.
 Enjoy both worry-free backup of all of your home's PCs (including Macs) as well as easy music, video and photo streaming. |
 The HP LX195 includes 640 GB of internal storage and expansion using USB external hard drives via the four USB 2.0 ports. |
Managing Your Digital Lifestyle
With the increasing amount of digital content that you work with on a daily basis as well as growing digital media libraries, a homer server can both share files to computers on your network as well as back up critical files from those computers. Here are just a few things that the HP LX195 MediaSmart can do for you: Automatic Backup
- Automatically manage daily backup, virus protection, media collection, and power management, all behind the scenes.
- Automatically back up multiple computers, whether running Windows (via Microsoft Windows Home Server Backup) or Mac (via Apple Time Machine).
- Store up to 168,000 photos, 147,000 songs or 405 hours of video on the installed 640 GB hard drive.
- Get additional protection by backing up your server to an on-line back-up service like Amazon S3.
Designed for Digital Media
- Access your media anywhere with an Internet-connected computer.
- Stream music and photos to any computer, while you're at home or away.
- Stream to your stereos and TVs through a gaming console like the Xbox 360 or PlayStation3.
- Publish photos to photo-sharing and social networking Web sites--Snapfish, Flickr, Picasa, and even Facebook--via any Internet-connected computer, or share directly from your server.
- Share music libraries for play throughout your home.
Easy Setup, Scheduling, and Support
- Set up fast: just plug it in, connect it to your wireless router (sold separately), and load the software on your PCs and Macs.
- Schedule the server to copy and centralize Windows PC media files and libraries (including iTunes and playlists).
- Expand your capacity by adding external hard drives via four USB ports on the back.
- Warranty and support: one-year limited; get help toll-free, 24 x 7, or via email in as little time as an hour.
Software Features
- HP Control Center. The HP MediaSmart software that sits on top of the Windows Home Server software making access to tasks easier. Users with administrative access privileges can access the Windows Home Server Console from the HP Control Center.
- Windows Home Server Console. Software accessed from the HP Control Center to manage your HP MediaSmart Server. Software includes setting up shared folders, assigning user access privileges and customizing backups.
- File Sharing and Storage. Effortlessly centralize your files and access them from any PC and or Mac on your home network. Set Read/Write, Read Only or No Access privileges for each user. Access privileges are set at the shared folder level. In addition, you control the remote access privilege for each user.
- PC Hard Drive Disk Backup. Once the HP MediaSmart Server software is installed on a home PC, the Windows Home Server backup software automatically starts backing up the PC's hard disk drive image every night. You can customize the number and frequency of backups kept. You can also make incremental backups, where only changes are backed up after the initial large backup.
- Mac Backup. Back up your Macs to the MediaSmart Server using Apple's Time Machine software.
- Shared Folder Duplication. Folder duplication requires permanently adding an external hard disk drive to one of the USB 2.0 ports on the back of the product. Designated folders can be copied automatically onto an external hard disk drive for an additional layer of redundant protection.
- HP Media Collector. Conveniently schedules the server to copy and centralize your Windows PC media files and libraries (including iTunes and playlists).
- Remote Access. Upon installation, you can set up a personal web address to be used for remote access and by visitors. Using your personal web address, you can remotely access shared folders and files on the HP MediaSmart Server from any Internet-connected computer. Remotely run applications on computers on your home network through the HP MediaSmart Server from an Internet-connected computer using your personal web address.
- In-Home and Remote Media Streaming. Extend your digital media experiences by conveniently streaming photos, music and videos to your TVs, through gaming consoles such as Xbox 360 or PlayStation3, and computer's within your home. Remotely stream music and photos from your server to any Internet-connected computer for access while you are away.
- HP Photo Publisher. Easily publish your photos to Snapfish, Facebook, Flickr, and Picasa Web Albums using an Internet-connected computer
- HP Photo Viewer. Quickly share photos and albums stored on the Server with friends and family.
- Server for iTunes. Centralize your iTunes music libraries and playlists on the server for playback to any PC or Mac running iTunes on your home network.
- Easy Storage Expansion. Add up to four external hard drives to the HP MediaSmart Server, indicate that you want to add the disk in the Windows Home Server Console, and the HP MediaSmart Server storage grows. No need to power down the unit or manage drive letters for multiple hard drives.
- Server Anti-Virus Protection. Server side anti-virus trial offer from McAfee for increased protection of your HP MediaSmart Server. Run quick scans of specific folders or deep scans across your entire home server.
- Server Backup.
- Users. Up to 10 user accounts can access the HP MediaSmart Server. In addition, a predefined Guest account can be enabled.
- PC Operating System Support:
- Automatic backup of computers running Microsoft Windows Vista (32 & 64 bit), XP Home (SP2), XP Professional (SP2), Media Center Edition 2004 (SP2) or later, and Macs running Apple'sTime Machine.
- File sharing for computers running Microsoft Windows Vista (32 & 64 bit), XP Home (SP2) or XP Professional (SP2), Media Center Edition 2004 (SP2) or later, Mac OS X, or Linux.
- Remote access to computers running Microsoft Windows XP Professional (SP2), Media Center Edition 2005 (SP2), or Vista Ultimate.
Hardware Features
- Processor: 1.6 HGz Intel Atom 230
- Memory: 1 GB of DDR2 RAM
- Internal Storage: 640 GB hard disk drive (SATA, 7200 RPM)
- Internal Expansion: none
- External Expansion: 4 USB 2.0
- Network Support: 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) RJ45 Ethernet; supports both wired and wireless PCs (via a wireless router).
- Dimensions: 3.9 x 8.2 x 8 inches (WxHxD)
What's in the Box
This package includes the HP LX195 MediaSmart Server, power adapter and cable, Ethernet cable, software installation disc, PC restore disc, server recovery disc, and printed setup and user guides. The MediaSmart Server is backed by a one-year limited warranty and dedicated software technical support both online and by phone.
HP LX195 MediaSmart Home Server
A disappointed reader
02. Feb, 2010
I bought 2 HP Media Vaults – MV2020 for storage capacity and print server capabilities. One held all my files from the past 20 years, including priceless family photos, and the other was purely backup. Both have failed catastrophically within several days of each other!! Discs spinning loudly as though out of control, unable to shutdown, and burning smell. HP customer service has been absolutely useless – website shows warranty expiring almost a year before I bought the units! After wasting time on the phone, I was told they would provide warranty replacement once I prove my purchase date (from Amazon), BUT I’m out of luck on all my data! Now trying recovery methods that will cost many times more than the HP units did in the first place!! DO NOT use HP Media servers even if obtained for free – not worth it! I thought I could trust the brand name, but found out HP is as worthless as their products.
Rating: 1 / 5
Gadget Girl
02. Feb, 2010
The best part of this device isn’t the copious storage, or the slick user interface, or the automatic backup feature. No, the HP server shines in its ability to connect to literally every networked device in your house. This means that all our computers see it, our Wii sees it, and most importantly, our PS3 sees it and can access all the movies, photos, and music stored there. In effect this system means you can catalog ALL your movies and access them through the PS3. The only downside appears to be that, since it runs through your router, the streaming rate is limited to the *upload* speed of your router. it might be possible to hook an additional router up to improve bandwidth, but I haven’t tried it. So the limitation on streaming is, for us, about 2MB/s (1-1.5 MB/s in practical use). Most MPEG-encoded movies (AVIs) will stream fine with those bitrates, but MP4s and MOVs (which are larger and need more throughput) are choppy and essentially unwatchable via streaming. MP3 music files transmit with no problem. So if you’re thinking about getting this for digital streaming, make sure your movies are in an AVI format or that the bitrate is low enough so your router can keep up.
Rating: 4 / 5
HP LX195 MediaSmart Home Server | ToGadget , The Guide to Gadgets | Problems Resolved
02. Feb, 2010
[...] Follow this link: HP LX195 MediaSmart Home Server | ToGadget , The Guide to Gadgets [...]
Tate
03. Feb, 2010
The focus of this review is going to be primarily focused on the user friendlness and technical aspects of this product other than the actual functions itself. It you want to know what a home media server does, Amazon provides a fabulous description of its many exciting features. Essentially, however, these Media Servers are miracle products that transform the digital junkie into a sorcerer of digital magic. This baby streams your files to any computer in your home and also makes them accessible anywhere with internet thanks to web servers. Living in the digital age has never been more fun. If you have tons of pictures, videos, music, or any computer file you consistently like to share with your family and friends then you definitely NEED one of these Media Servers – the question is, is this the right one?
After a month of tinkering, experimenting, playing around, and pressing buttons here is my list of Pros and Cons that I’ve run into so far:
PRO:
+ Easy Setup
– Installing hardware has never been my forte, but setting this up was a breeze. The only hiccup I had was my own fault for thinking I could get it to completely function without plugging it into a Router. I should have followed directions better. You HAVE to have a router for this to work. And not just any either, it needs to be specifically designed for network usage. I bought the Belkin Wireless N+ 802.11n Router (Black) and it worked great.
+ Assigning/Restricting User Access
– When making up user names and passwords for my family to have remote access to the files I was overjoyed to discover that I could limit what files and folders different users had access to. Not only did this make me feel like an all-power media master, but of course there were some files I didn’t want my grandma to have access to.
+ Online Access
– This is perhaps the best feature. While my family owns 3 computers in the same house, most of the people I wanted to share my files with didn’t live with me. Setting up and accessing the files online was extremely easy. The server has a clean interface that lets users access and download the files from the folders in which they have access. It’s very easy to find the files you’re looking for because it doesn’t waste time looking fancy. This is also amazing because I can access word documents from work or anywhere else where I might need some of my home files.
+ What It Does
– Okay I admit I’d never heard of a Media Server until I got this but now I don’t know how I ever survived without it. No more USB sticks, no more emailing myself files. I can keep it all on my server and access it from Anywhere. Not to mention with a family that has many computers in the home already it’s a digital dream come true being able to listen to my music anywhere.
CONS:
- Logging In & Out
– This might seem a bit picky but because I enjoyed setting up various access abilities for different users it kind of became a problem when different members of the family wanted to log into the main server. I couldn’t find a “log out” or “switch user” option anywhere and found that the only way to log out was to restart the computer.
- Memory
– It seems like a just a year ago that 650 GB was such a ridiculously large amount of memory it wouldn’t be possible to fill it up. Now, however, as we store our videos and everything imaginable in a digital file, it makes me a little nervous that the memory could and would be soon used up on this guy. It does have the ability to add additional memory and external hard drives, but if you don’t want to have electronics connected into electronics connected into electronics it’d be nice to have more memory. Especialy since it uses a lot to backup my entire computer every day.
- Questionable Functions
– While my Media Server continuously reminds me it has successfully backed itself up I don’t necessarily trust it. Maybe I’m just paranoid but I wouldn’t completely put all my faith in this guy to keep your files safe. I don’t trust it as much as my regular external hard drive either, so I made copies of all my files before putting them on the server. It makes me feel better, although I have no particular reason to not trust it except that it will occasionally inform me that the backup procedure failed and that it would try again later.
OVERALL OPINION:
I am in LOVE with this Media Server!! It’s like having a digital juke box, photo album, and video screen that you can use anytime, anywhere. Is THIS the media server you need? Well… that depends. It’s at a great price but I think the memory will eventually become a problem, especially if you choose to use it as a sole hard drive. Personally I think it would be a good idea to look into the Linksys by Cisco 1 TB Media Hub with LCD as it has a Terabyte of memory and a more interesting (although perhaps more complicated) interface. I would NOT recommend HP EX485 MediaSmart Home Server or HP EX487 MediaSmart Home Server because the upgrades from this one hardly look worth the price jump. If memory isn’t a problem, however, I couldn’t find anything that looked better than this on Amazon.
Hope my review helps! Happy Shopping!
Rating: 4 / 5
Mr. William G. Wardino
03. Feb, 2010
Sad to say, I could not get this latest rendition from Hp to function properly. I spent a total of seven hours with HP’s techs (both of whom knew their stuff–free call, English speaking Canadians), but we could not get it to perform. The server (slick, small, and an impressive design)simply would not connect with my primary client(PC). Nor could I get it to enter recovery mode. I did purchase (from Amazon) the Windows Home Server software by Microsoft, and I was able to set up my own server(not without several challenges!). To use Microsoft’s jargon, if you don’t do it right, the software will break (and I can bear witness to this indisputable fact). The faint of heart should not try this, but perhaps purchase one of the other HP Home Servers, which are a bit more expensive but have at least two internal HDDs. And don’t buy any of the above, if you intend to use the server as a PC as well. Remember, a client (PC) is a client, and a Server is a Server!HP LX195 MediaSmart Home Server
Rating: 1 / 5
GearGuy
03. Feb, 2010
You should download and read the manual BEFORE deciding to buy. I have to pay for shipping both ways to return this box. Turns out, actually, the remote access advertised does NOT work with the ‘home’ editions of Vista and XP I have. Remote work/home access was the only reason I bought this. Also, the 195 does not support Windows7, which actually my primary computer uses now (unfortunately also the ‘home’ edition, also no remote access anyway).
I dont’ blame HP, a company I have great experience with; Microsoft really runs a scam with the home/pro versions. I have to consider where to spend the upgrade money first, with a Pro OS, or a more expensive server.
Buyer beware.
Rating: 1 / 5