| Manufacturer: HP | Model: HP EX495 MediaSmart Server |
| Price: $699 (UK TBC) | Web: HP |
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HP’s third generation MediaSmart Server transforms Windows Home Server support for Mac, and improves user experience with faster hardware and a redesigned console.
![hp3[1]](http://www.wegotserved.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/hp31.jpg "hp3[1]")
There have been some great double acts over the years. Whilst HP and Microsoft may not produce the same comedic value as Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello or Peter Cook and Dudley Moore (at least not intentionally), the continued partnership between the Windows Home Server platform and HP’s MediaSmart Server hardware is becoming as familiar (and dare we say it, comfortable) to the home server community.
Whilst Microsoft has had to work hard to secure widespread major OEM support for the platform, HP have been cracking through their hardware releases. The EX49x series is their third generation of MediaSmart Server, and this year alone has been joined by a lower cost, single drive model in form of the LX195, and a recently announced push into the small business market with the HP StorageWorks X510.
Since November 2007, we’ve seen HP release an annual refresh of the MediaSmart Server, with each release bringing improvements to hardware, and last year’s models (the EX48x series) stepping up with a great set of media-related software add-ins. It’s fair to say that 2009’s hardware is more of an incremental update, especially for PC owners, with the usual up-specced hardware and a redesigned user interface providing the major benefits. It’s a different story for Mac owners, who now benefit from full bare metal restore and access to the Windows Home Server Console for the first time.
With Microsoft working on the next-generation of the Windows Home Server platform, this may well be the last hurrah for the HP MediaSmart Server’s EX series on the current OS, so let’s take a look at what’s new.
7. October 2009 at 3:25 pm
Brill thanks for that!
7. October 2009 at 3:39 pm
any news on the European Market ( United Kingdom area)
I've been looking at upgrading from a ex475, as far as I can tell not available yet
7. October 2009 at 4:50 pm
Amazon.co.uk have the EX490 listed for pre-order – no news on the 495 as yet….
7. October 2009 at 4:09 pm
Nice review Terry! I suspect the issues you saw with MKV's was due to multi-channel audio. In the previous version of the Video Converter I experienced the same issue with multi-channel audio tracks in mkv files, but found that 2-channel stereo tracks converted with the audio intact.
http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2009/04/23/forum-...
7. October 2009 at 4:50 pm
Great wiki, Alex – did you ping HP re: the multi-channel issue? Would be good to see if they can fix!
7. October 2009 at 4:57 pm
I did not, that's a good idea. I'm not familiar with the Arcsoft software they use for the Converter so don't know if/how it handles downmixing multi-channel audio to stereo, but it can't hurt to ask!
7. October 2009 at 6:12 pm
Full client backups of the mac dont count for the 10 computer limit? hmmm.
Anyhow nice review Terry.
7. October 2009 at 6:33 pm
Liking the improved Mac features. However anyone know what the disadvantages of having to use SMB as opposed to AFP on a Mac are?
7. October 2009 at 6:46 pm
Anyone know of an easy way to migrate from a 475 to the 495? Can I just put the System drive of the 475 into the 495 (along with all the other drives used) and do a Server Recovery to avoid the slow copy process????? Anyone with thoughts on this? There are a few comments between 475 and 485, but nothing that goes cross processor/platform… concern obviously being about drivers, etc…. thoughts?
Lee
7. October 2009 at 8:25 pm
The EX48x and EX49x are very similar, the problem will be in the licensing, I don't believe WHS will auto-activate. I instead recommend the Server Recovery route as I described in this blog post.
http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2009/08/28/using-...
7. October 2009 at 7:14 pm
I wouldn't think that would work from an amd system to an intel system ( definitely get a blue screen if you had a monitor hooked up )
8. October 2009 at 2:34 am
Any word on HP releasing an update for the EX48x. I really want the updated Mac experience!
8. October 2009 at 7:34 am
I think there should be an update coming from HP soon on this….
9. October 2009 at 9:38 am
For the 47x crowd that used WebShare and switched to PhotoPublisher, what has been your experience? Do you have to recreate existing albums or do they migrate, can you limit access to albums per user, etc?
10. October 2009 at 8:08 pm
@davidob. Was wondering the same thing. Without any Macs in the household I'm a bit hesitant to push for the 3.0 upgrade. I'm quite a heavy Photo Webshare user. Any insight from other readers would be very welcome.