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Mac and Online Backup Support Coming to Existing HP MediaSmart Server Owners

By on December 29, 2008 in Hardware, Windows Home Server

With the announcement of HP’s new EX485 & EX487 today, bringing a new hardware spec and a raft of new add-ins, the question on everyone’s lips has been whether HP will release any of the new applications for existing HP MediaSmart Server owners.

The answer to that question is….. YES!

Without going into specifics, a spokesperson for HP today confirmed that some of the features of the new models will indeed be made available for existing owners, and a search of HP’s new MediaSmart Server microsite revealed the following nugget:

hp2 thumb1 Mac and Online Backup Support Coming to Existing HP MediaSmart Server Owners

hp thumb1 Mac and Online Backup Support Coming to Existing HP MediaSmart Server Owners

So, whilst we’re waiting for a final and full list of what features will be made available in a software update, it certainly looks like Mac support will be coming to existing HP MediaSmart Server EX47 and EX475 owners.

Update: HP have now confirmed that both Mac Backup and Online Backup, powered by Amazon S3 are the two features which will be made available for existing HP MediaSmart owners. Timing is TBC.

Hats off to HP for looking after their early adopters.


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About Terry Walsh

Terry Walsh is the founding editor and owner of We Got Served. Since February 2007, the site has provided detailed coverage and analysis of the emerging home server category, and has subsequently grown into a trusted outlet for digital home news and reviews.
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  • JerryW

    It is great to hear that HP is moving forward with the WHS product line. However, I and I am sure others, am skeptical as to just how well HP will continue to support the existing EX470/475 users. I know, this may not be the final support listing but it sure makes me ache to see NO next to a couple of items that would mean a lot to me.

  • http://www.mymovies.dk Brian Binnerup

    Generally, I think that although HP seems to introduce things for users of the previous home server, I can’t see why users can complain if they do not.

    They purchased a product, which had a certain number of features, and will continue to have these features.

    If you should upgrade each old product every time you made a new one, it would be very hard to create new products.

    If you purchased a BMW in year 2005, and when a new model was introduced in 2008, would you go to the dealer and say it would only be fair if they upgraded your 2005 model to include what the new 2008 model has?

  • Ringading

    I will be surprised if power control is not included. These are Green times.

  • Diehard

    Brian, I agree with you to a point.

    The difference between the 2 models is only 1 year, so if I had a 2005 BMW and the 2006 had a new fancier radio, I might ask the dealer if there is any way to get an upgrade. Of course I would expect to pay a premium. But it should be doable. I don’t think that expecting a free upgrade is realistic unless it was offered in my original purchase. Some software is sold with future upgrades at no cost.

  • MJ

    I understand that HP want to sell their new products but unless additional hardware is required, existing EX470/475 owners should at least have the option to be able to pay for a software upgrade that provides these new features, the same way that Apple sell new versions of OS X or Microsoft a new version of Office. Most of the new features sound like software improvements and not really any major hardware changes after all…

  • JerryW

    I agree with MJ and DieHard. Though, I do understand what you are saying Brian. However, using car models as a comparison is rather silly. Sure there would be difference, possibly profound differences, between a 2005 automobile and a 2008. Though, personally, I do not feel that the EX470/475 has been around, nor updated enough, to be left out of significant software changes, especially when HP’s website does not show enough physical change in the new devices. Of course, moving from AMD to Intel would make a difference but I have no doubt that both would be able to run any of the updates that HP is implementing. To me this scenario is rather typical; create a product, get everyone to buy into it, and then come out with exactly what people would or should have gotten from the beginning. I for one have not had my WHS server that long. Actually, I purchased it in July of this year. It does not make me feel good that there is a new product that quick without seeing it developed further. This is all I am saying. On this same note, I am not saying HP will not provide these updates. It would just be nice to feel like some of the things we buy has some longevity to them…

  • Boggy

    To follow JerryW:

    One could argue that Ex470/475 was a beta release of the products. HP didn’t do (admittedly) their job with correctly asses hardware requirements for WHS (512 MB for a server – PHLEEEZE). I don’t expect to get a hardware replacement for the old version, but software upgrade … you bet, I do. I believe that HP has a great opportunity to prove that it stands by their early supporters, who spent premium dollars for their not-so-perfect product. Again, new software, could still bring service revenues from online backup or others.
    HP proved more then once, that they DO listen to reasonable suggestions/requests, so I am optimistic.

  • JerryW

    Boggy,

    I could not have said it better!!

  • John

    Originally Posted By BoggyTo follow JerryW:

    but software upgrade … you bet, I do. .

    Would you expect the software upgrade to be free ? I don’t. If they went with a windows server 2008 WHS 64 bit system as the new Intel CPU will support, then it is a different ball game.

    From what I read, some add-ins Mac backup and Online backup will come with a HP update.

  • Boggy

    @John – Software upgrade for free… normally I would not ( I used to buy my Quicken / Trubotax ) religiously, but … this particular time, I believe that HP “owns” me for the fact, that I had to pay out of my pocket for the memory upgrade that should not be required in the first place. Let’s not dwell on the data corruption fiasco that HP should also take some responsibility for lack of their own testing (Luckily my ex475 did not loose any data, like others did).

    You have to admit, that this upgrade does not bring that much additional functionality, and most of us will not loose sleep, if we don’t get it. However, I believe that this is an excellent inexpensive long-term marketing opportunity to get more loyal customers to HP camp. Nothing more, nothing less.

    I will be more then happy to pay for a true OS upgrade when it is released. However, I don’t expect to pay for SP1 or SP2 patches, do you?

  • Paul

    Perhaps HP are providing the software that they developed in house for free, but are not providing the software for which they had to pay license fees. This makes quite a bit of sense. Quite honestly, the only pieces that are “important” are the ones they are providing. Adding Orb support for streaming is simple (if perhaps not quite as elegant as the “new” solution–we’ll see). Configuring SyncToy (or whatever) for media synchronization is also quite easy (though it requires that you go to each client). Integrating an automated offline backup solution? Pretty hard (not even 100% sure it is possible). Making it work with Time Machine? Physically impossible to do so reliably (as I’ve painfully found out).

    So, Kudo’s to HP! Thanks for continuing to support a great product!

  • Stenton23

    @Boggy – I would dismiss anyone who argued the point that I paid $$ for a beta release, though I did violate my own rule about avoiding any 1.0 release. I completely agree with the rest of your point, however.

    HP stands to make or break loyalties here with their support. My EX470 is great and has (for the most part) lived up to its promise, but in a couple years, I may want to replace it, as well as the computers it protects…

  • John

    I just purchased an Ex470 from Costco (great price) which is still in its mailing box unopened. Now I read the new models are coming out in a month or two. I run 2 PCs and have a new iMac (Time Machine backed up to an extenal HD). I wanted to gather all files together and share pics to family. Almost all the pictures and videos will be from my iMac. My question – Should I keep the Ex470 or wait for the Ex485? I’m willing to shell out a little more money for more funtionality to meet my needs but I don’t know what I don’t know. Appreciate any answers and help.

  • http://www.pedroinnecco.com pmdci

    Since HP announced a while ago that owners of the previous models could upgrade their RAM without violating their warranty, it is most likely that users with upgraded RAM would expect to run the same software in their homeservers. If HP don’t provide them with a legal way of doing it, I am quite sure that users will find a way to hack the software…