Prepress
HP Launches New Home Server for PCs and Macs
Monday 05. January 2009 - HP MediaSmart Server centralizes digital media and files for backup, remote access, sharing and uploading to social media sites
HP today launched a home server designed for use with both Windows and Mac computers.
Based on the Microsoft Windows Home Server platform, the HP MediaSmart Server ex485/ex487 is a central repository for automatically backing up and accessing digital music, videos, photos and documents from multiple computers on a home network.(1)
The MediaSmart Server automatically organizes files across all PCs, streams media across a home network and the Internet,(2) and publishes photos to popular social networking and photo sharing sites.
“A growing number of digital-savvy households have both Windows and Mac computers, with hundreds and sometimes thousands of media files and documents scattered across these devices,” said Jason Zajac, vice president of strategy, Worldwide Attach Group, HP. “The HP MediaSmart Server protects, stores and organizes this content from anywhere on a network so consumers can access and share it any place they are connected.”
“HP continues to innovate on the Windows Home Server platform giving consumers even more options to enjoy and protect their precious memories and valuable data,” said Charlie Kindel, general manager, Windows Server Solutions, Microsoft. “We believe consumers will embrace the new MediaSmart Server as one of the most exciting computing products for the home.”
HP MediaSmart Server ex485/ex487 features include:
HP Media Collector: conveniently schedules the MediaSmart Server to copy and centralize digital files and libraries from networked PCs
Media Streaming: remotely streams photos and music to any Internet-connected PC or Mac
Server for iTunes: centralizes iTunes music libraries on the server for playback to any networked Mac or PC running iTunes
HP Photo Publisher: easily upload photos to Facebook, Picasa Web Albums and Snapfish(3)
HP Photo Viewer: allows easy sharing of photos with friends and family
PC Hard Drive Backup: backs up networked PCs via the Windows Home Server backup feature
Mac Hard Drive Backup: backs up Macs running Leopard using Apple Time Machine software
Server Backup: duplicates designated shared folders to a separate hard disk drive
Online Backup: duplicates designated folders to Amazons S3 online backup service for an additional layer of protection
Smart Power Management: can schedule times for server to go to “sleep” and “wake up,” saving on energy costs
Processor: Intel Celeron, 2.0 GHz 64-bit. Two gigabytes (GB) of 800-MHz DDR2 DRAM now standard on MediaSmart Server
Expandability: additional drives can be added for up to 9 terabytes (TB)
“Customers are always looking for the right mix of features and ease-of-use when choosing digital home products,” said Danielle Levitas, group vice president, Consumer, Broadband and Digital Marketplace, IDC. “HPs focus and investment in software allows it to deliver a home server with compelling features for Mac and PC users while offering a great customer experience that helps simplify the complexity of the connected home. This unique offering will help expand the home server market.”
Pricing and availability
Manufacturers suggested retail price for the HP MediaSmart Server ex485 with 750 GB of hard disk storage is $599 while the HP MediaSmart Server ex487 with 1.5 TB is $749.(4)
The HP MediaSmart Server can be pre-ordered beginning Jan. 5, 2009, from Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, Buy.com, Frys.com and NewEgg.com; it is expected to ship in February.
The first 200 consumers who visit HP Home & Home Office (www.hpshopping.com) or call +1 888 271 2982 between Jan. 5 – 11, 2009, to reserve a MediaSmart Server and use coupon code “AC5674” will receive a $50 savings off their purchase.(5)