Here at WGS, owners of the first generation HP MediaSmart Server EX470/475 have been up in arms about being excluded from the latest v2.5 software update, which is only available for second generation models. Check out their comments here and here.
HP today contacted me with a statement responding to the points made:
We have been following the reaction to our 2.5 software update and understand that consumers who purchased the first generation MediaSmart EX 470/475 are eager to receive some of the features available to the new second generation MediaSmart Server EX485/487. Consumer feedback is important to us and is taken into account and prioritized relative to our ongoing product development priorities. We have thus far released three updates to the first generation MediaSmart Server EX470/475. These updates delivered feature enhancements as well as new capabilities such as Packet Video media streaming. And, we have a fourth software update scheduled for release next month that will provide Amazon S3 backup and Mac Time Machine capability.
There are limits, however, to what features we’re able to provide to each generational platform. In addition to hardware differences, the underlying software architecture changed significantly between generations.
We sincerely appreciate the continued interest in the MediaSmart Server and will continue to listen to customer feedback and requested future features.
So, the company maintains that hardware (most notably processor and memory) and indeed software architecture are the limiting factors here. The statement raises an interesting discussion point though – should computers receive continual feature updates? How many updates is a fair number? HP state that the EX470/475 has received 3 updates with a fourth to follow next month – is that a fair number? If you were in HP’s position, how would you handle software updates?
The floor is yours – hit the comments box below.
31. May 2009 at 11:09 pm
The way I see it, if HP allows said that upgrading the previous models to 2GB won´t void the warranty, then it should give such users the option to upgrade the software. Plain simple. The set-up for the update could even detect if the WHS has 512MB or 2GB, and then take the appropriate step: either continue with the setup, or reditect the user to a HP website explaining about the memory upgrade.
22. July 2009 at 8:04 pm
Is the 2.5 update out yet and where can I get it from?
I see that a downloadable version is available as long as you fool the system into thinking it is one of the new ones.
Is that right? And will it be different to the official final version>
26. July 2009 at 6:51 am
Come on HP you are being short sighted. Early Adopters made the Hp Media Smart Server the sucess that it is today. If you fail to support the EX47x platform that we bought in good faith, you will no only lose the goodwill of the 1st gen buyers, but future potential buyers as well. I have already upgraded my RAM to 2GB with your blessing, which is sufficient to handle the 2.5 upgrade. The new software should be offered to any EX47x owner willing to accept any consequences in loading the software designed for your new generation equipment.
18. August 2009 at 12:21 pm
HP 'threw me under the bus'!
I bought an EX470 as soon as it was marketed. Now, after a lightning strike burned out the Ethernet port on my '470 it has become a 'brick with blinking lights'. I also lost a FiOS router and a PC connected to it due to the lightning. As far as I can tell, the '470 goes through the boot up sequence okay at power on but since it's no longer 'found' my my local network I am screwed.
Calling HP's tech support line was of no use. I explained that my unit was out of warranty and that I wanted to buy a mobo for it. 'Sorry', was the reply… a replacement mobo is not available for it. BUT, we have the external cables for sale if you need those. DUH?
AFAIK, HP never offered an after warranty contract for the EX470. After warranty support and or replacement parts is a joke.
It's time to build my own server.
regards,
DukieDuke
10. September 2009 at 1:26 am
Terry,
Anything new on the 470/475 2.50 upgrade or vaporware?
10. September 2009 at 4:57 am
Had an email today from HP:
HP is committed to supporting our customer base and providing upgrades where practical. As previously announced, we are planning to provide an upgrade for existing EX4xx customers to the current software this fall (2009). Exact details of when and how this update will be delivered are still under development and we will offer this information when it is available.
10. September 2009 at 4:15 pm
If HP does not put any news or the sw on the web soon I think this was only a way of buing them self some time due to the release of the new EX48X in Europe to keep the marked talk nice about their software / hardware products. This is just like HP, just try to find any Windows 7 drivers / sw from HP. Happy hunting
18. September 2009 at 5:30 am
Having been a HP mediasmaert owner from early days (couldn't buy new as the US don't export to Australia) and not sold here. I bought new thru ebay. same diff really. But really cheesed off with the HP offhand manner they retail products. And their comments about older products and how far they should go in retro fitting products eg newer hardware etc. Its the same old MS server2003 under the bonnet. Memory yep changes still the software/hardware aren't the restrainig reasons its all about marketing.
I love my small server its never had a sick day. The only area I feel is actual restore aspect of this product. Its crankey and not obvious the restore and there's no DAT tape or backup capability in this system to be really tops. If there's a crash hope its a minor change of a disk not multiple drives. So far to go and not enough time. Will address the replacement in the next year. As this device is my family's store of electronic memories. Scary really.
Mister HP pls listen to customers on these areas….
26. December 2009 at 5:30 pm
Hi there, I’m starting up a site and in the middle of making somewhat diverse content. Would you object if I blog something about this? I will of course provide you and this post due credit.
24. April 2009 at 10:55 am
Likewise.
I wonder if the Server of mine will be able to upgrade to WHS version 2. If hp are having difficulties with a mere application update then I fear I may have to buy a new box – not a HP one mind – for WHS 2
24. April 2009 at 9:25 pm
I'm completely disgusted with HP's response and treatment of their customers. First of all, they shipped the EX47x with insufficient RAM that nearly everyone has had to upgrade if they are using it for anything other than basic file storage. Even the new plug-ins they delivered with the previous update would choke the system unless you added more RAM.
While I can see that the RAM requirements for the few features will prevent their use on a EX47x with the default 512K RAM, I can't believe that they won't work on an upgraded system. And I think they are lying through their teeth when they say that there are meaningful hardware differences (other than RAM) that prevent the new features from working on the EX47x boxes. Except for the sleek/wakeup features I can't believe these new features are tied that closely to the physical hardware.
I'd be fine if the limit the upgrade to people that have upgraded to 2GB of RAM and even if they charged a reasonable fee for the upgrade. Or worst case, they should offer a generous trade-in program (at least 50% off) a new server to existing EX47x owners if they simply can't make the features available to existing users.
24. April 2009 at 11:04 pm
So HP is claiming the EX47* series server is not suitable or powerful enough to run all of the features offered on the EX48* series and the 2.5 update, well it could be true regarding the media streaming but come on HP please do not insult our intelligence that the hardware could not handle the HP Photo Publisher or the Media collector. Neither of these two features could be very demanding, if needed we would just have to be patient while the server processed the data. Please stop making excuses and make the software available to us EX47* owners, if needed in a stripped down form specially to run on the EX47* server at a reasonable cost
25. April 2009 at 6:16 pm
I like his response to HP after having read this post:
>>Considering where I am now with this project; that article is IMHO a pack of lies. …<<
25. April 2009 at 6:46 pm
http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2009/04/24/forum-...
I guess they have given up on the HP Route.
29. April 2009 at 12:23 pm
Intersting comment, I think. Given the social networking power of Facebook, Twitter and other sites, a dissatisfied customer carries more weight now than, say, 10 years ago.
29. April 2009 at 5:29 pm
"most of the addons got turned off after I concluded that the PS/3 didn't perform as a Media player "
I use a PS3 as themedia player for our 60" Hi_Def TV and it works well. We have watched many movies via the PS3 from the MSS server. On the MSS, I have the movies stored as .AVI and I know that works. The movies may not be hi-def that way, but they good to us.
29. April 2009 at 5:32 pm
I suppose you never heard of a recall, poor analogy!
29. April 2009 at 7:52 pm
Adding features and a recall are two different things. Ford will fix my 2006 Mustang for 36 months or 36K miles, that is the terms of the warranty. Under warranty, they will not turn it in to a 2009 Mustang.
The warranty is up on my HP MSS, 47x. HP would have repaired, anytime during that period and fixed it back to a 47x (luckily they didn't need too).
Don't get me wrong, I do want a good upgrade. I want to be able to stream! BUT I can not expect HP to support a platform they they no longer sell. Just be glad they are doing what they are doing because I doubt they get much support from Microsoft on this. We are talkinga $450 USD computer that is now over a year old. I love it and want to do more with it, but it is limited to technologiy that is now over a year old. That's a lifetime in this industry. I doubt they made many $$$ profit on a $450USD device to keep supporting it for several years. It does exactly what it was sold to do and now more than that.
29. April 2009 at 7:52 pm
Part 2:
I am not happy that I can not stream to my IPHONE or I-something player, but I never thought of that when I bought it. I bought it for backing up the computers in the house and it does that well (I had to restored a Windows Vista laptop to a new hard drive and it worked spectacularly!!).
Now is there anyway to do streaming with an add-in verses this 2.5 software that my server can not run???
30. April 2009 at 12:50 pm
My reply yesterday when missing… A recall and feature upgrades are two separate things. I wish my old platform could use 2.5, I really really do, but it is relatively old hardware. I have upgraded the Memory to 2 gigs and it is running great. So much so, that I really did very little with the server for almost a year until I bought the new memory strip, because I felt is was useless for anything other than backing up the other computers.
Now that it is feeling perkey, I have added some of the cool add-ins and that only leaves me wanting more. Yesterday, I determined for the first time that I want to stream video and audio over the internet. I accessed my website from work and thought it would be neat to show someone a video – found out I couldn't stream. That's when I went looking for a streaming plug-in and got tied up in this 2.5 mess.
30. April 2009 at 12:50 pm
I want 2.5 for my old platform, but it taint going to happen and I can't expect HP to write for a hardware platform that they no longer sell (heck it was only $450 anyway). Unfortunitely with the state of the economy and our finances, I can't get the new 485 server (it'll be obsolete next year anyway).
Is there any other way to stream audio and video besides 2.5???
30. April 2009 at 3:14 pm
Is there a hacked version?