Acer vs HP – the $399 Home Server Smackdown

By on April 30, 2009 in Hardware

So, now you know how the home server category is shaping up in 2009, and it’s a battle for great hardware and software features at the lowest price.

HP and Acer are bringing to market two brand new home servers with different features, both at a $399 price point. It’ll be interesting to see which does best in the marketplace. But before all that, let the WGS Community decide! You’ve read the reviews, so your challenge is simple.

Acer Aspire easyStore Home Server vs the HP MediaSmart Server LX195 – which would you buy out of the two. Make sure you hit up the comments panel to tell us why.


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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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  • Hans

    I vote for the Acer because of the possibility of the large storage capacity with a low volume of electricity use. That's why I have a WHS too. The software from HP looks great though. But I think it's just a matter of (a little) time before more nice add-ins will follow.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/PaulJG PaulJG

    In this particular instance, Acer represents greater value, because of the expandability. Agree with Hans regarding the add-ins, and that HP's UI is more refined. As an aside, is the UK completely off the list of HP's distribution? What's the reason, if so?

  • http://dbone1026.blogspot.com DamianP

    I would choose Acer over the LX195 given they are the same price (I am an owner of the HP MSS EX470). The LX195 should be closer to $200 then $400 since any additional storage you are required to buy additional USB drives/enclosures.

  • cainmp

    I too voted for the Acer, simple for the ability to add internal storage. And I also agree its only a matter of time before add-ins that add some or all of the features of the HP servers are freely available.

  • David

    If I had to do it over again, I would probably go for the Acer (I currently own the HP EX470), merely because of the way that HP is disrespecting the early adopters that made their home server product line successful.

  • http://maner.us Mike

    Acer definately if for no other reason…HP will dump you after 6 months!

  • Simon

    HP have shown clearly that they don't care about people who purchased the original EX470 etc. No upgrades for software after 1.x years is awful… won't be buying an HP again I'm afraid.

  • Roscoe

    Acer!! – HP will drop support of the add-ins/interface they include, stating the hardware can't handle it though their marketing would state otherwise. Why not save money and go with Acer. As noted an add-in will probably be created for no or nominal charge.
    I had an Acer laptop and loved it. Went with HP to replace it and have regretted my purchase.
    When WHSv2 is released I'm guessing HP won't provide upgrade options for EX47x owners. I will end up throwing their box in the trash and look to Acer or build my own.

  • Martin

    I suspect that at the moment you could put a vote up for a turd vs anything from HP and the turd would win. There's no love for HP from home server owners at the moment.

  • JohnCz

    The Acer unit includes a PCI Express Slot !! Thats huge.

    If v2 WHS includes Media Center as many of hope for, we will now have a way to take advantage of internal TV tuners. And if I can project alittle…maybe..just maybe..we'll finally see a major OEM like HP & Acer certify their future WHS products with Cable Labs.

  • john b

    i totally agree. I wouldn't trust HP again with their lack of support for my HP Mediaserver that is less than 18 mos old…

  • john b

    :) so i vote for the Acer.

  • Dave

    I paid, as did many people, $400 for an EX470 near the end of last year, and that's now the list for this one. Granted, list is only list, but this seems to have almost nothing going for it. Oh, other than that fine HP customer care.

  • Chewie

    Acer, I won’t be purchasing any new HP products in the future having experienced how they treat existing customers of the EX475.

  • DarkonJohn

    I can remember when many people could justify paying a bit more for similar functionality (or payingt the same for slightly less functionality) just to get the brand name recognition and expectation of excellence that came with the HP name.

    It is a shame to see that recent HP actions have done so much to damage the HP reputation that it is now perceived as a negative factor in the purchasing decision. And it's a bigger shame to see HP do nothing about it.

  • Chris

    Acer, HP's totally dumping the UK server market makes it a non-contest. Introduce the EX487 HP Mediaserver into the UK and they might have a chance, but if the Acer comes out in the UK it's basically their market. (even the Scaleo has disappeared from PC Wordl) Although I would still like to see some of the HP features on the Acer, is it possible with third party add ins? If so perhaps a idea for a feature on WHS?

  • Alien

    Same prise huge storage for ACER… Personaly I hate ACER I alway have bad product from they, but … I vote for Acer server

  • http://www.wagware.com Jon

    Next server will definitely be an ACER. HP, you burned me once by not supporting the EX475 with software updates. It won't happen again! Total HP boycott here, no more laptops, printers, etc. This dv8380us, C6180 & MS EX475 are the last HP products I will own.

  • Aaron

    This is a tough one for me. I love the HP's minimalist design. By comparison the Acer looks cheap and ugly (IMO), though it does offer more storage. Like so many others on this thread, I've been burned by HP. So I'm not sure I'd give $400 for either of these.

    If the HP comes down in price as much as the previous two HP WHS models have, then I'll buy it (for, say, $250).

  • JohnBick

    A WHS server HAS to have multi-drive support in my opinion. Personally I need four bays but I could not recommend a unit with only one.

    Would DEFINITELY choose the Acer over the HP LX195.

    (NOTE, folks that the comparison is to the new LX195, NOT to the EX47x or EX48x HP units! I believe some earlier comments address the wrong HP unit.)

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Jim_Clark Jim_Clark

    Actually, Terry did not provide a complete poll. Where is the self-built option?

    And why are the REAL enthusiasts not screaming for a poll change? lol!

    And for the record: neither. Self-built all the way!

  • Bozzo

    Never HP again.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/urmaster urmaster

    Never again HP (at least for servers) support is well broken to say the least. It has vanished from the UK! Acer for me.

  • welchwerks

    How about the fact HP left me hanging without the latest 2.5 update for my 470, i cant stand that

  • Leslie Murdock

    Why reward HP as they cut you out of upgrades, and early adopters are penalized. This is not the company of Bill and Dave where the customer rules (or I should say ruled). Now it's … better left unsaid.

  • John

    I would definitely go for the Acer I am a very unhappy 3 month old EX470 owner who believe that HP should support a product with software. THREE MONTHS OLD and OBSOLETE, shameful customer care, I am sure Acer will not treat their customers like that.

  • Dave

    Done deal for me…. ordered the Acer

  • EddyKilowatt

    I'm buying (or hopefully building) a server in the next month, and I have to say HP would need to knock $100 or so off the LX195 price in order to compete on a price/performance basis.

    And that's not even taking into account whatever it is they've apparently done to make their customer service in this niche as bad as their customer service in other consumer segments.

  • BillyC

    Acer! I’m a very disappointed less than one year old HP MediaSmart EX475. I will do my absolute best to never purchase either personally or professionally a HP product. I will also encourage all friends, family and business colleagues to take the same position. Shame on HP! HP you won’t burn me again!!!

  • Pingback: MediaSmart Server LX195 roundup

  • Duane

    After reading both of the reviews, I would have to go for the Acer based just on storage capacity/storage options. I just don't see how you can have a home server with just 1 hard drive. If Acer can come out with a model with some of the media features that HP has I think it will blow the HP away.

    I can definately understand the people burned by HP.Defiantely not the smartest thing to do if you want people coming back. Looking at the replies here I did not see anybody saying they would go back to HP. Can't blame them.

    I used my old Dell Poweredge for my homeserver with Subsonic to stream my music which works great. I was considering a HP before finding out what has happened to existing MSS owners.

  • DPT

    HP, HP's software is better and keeps getting better. From what I've seen Acer doesn't even have a update mechanism of thier own, I guess Acer users won't have to complain about missing out on a Acer update ;-)

  • Chris

    be careful buying an HP WHS, especially if you want short-to-mid term software support.

  • Steve

    Of course HP is stil supporting these products, we are only annoyed for not having the previous version being included in the recent free feature updates for the 2009 version of the MSS. We shouldn't confuse support with free new features, still I agree they should have been made avialable to the older hardware also. Not sure about the Acer question.

  • Delvin

    Acer all the way!

  • ShadowVlican

    Acer ftw! why would a WHS be limited to a single drive?

  • Blond Angel

    there was a blog where a user bought an acer and he had to call customer support and none of the support has ever heard of the home server. At least HP know what an home server is…

  • http://www.sheetplastic.info Sheet Plastic :

    acer laptops are some of the best brands of laptops that you can buy*.`

  • ern

    Shoud it not be Acer vs HP485 smack down !
    The Acer still wins

  • Paul

    Agreed. I am so angry with HP's lack of support for the 470 I wouldn't touch them again.