Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Home 2 TB STAM2000100 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I give this item a 3.5 stars. It looses some stars because it really is not "simple set up" as it states. It takes some time to get it up and your files to back up the first initial time. I was extremely excited to try this product with my home network since we have two Windows PCs (1 XP & 1 Windows 7), and one Mac computer.For each desktop computer, I have installed wired external backup drives. The idea of having ONE back up drive to backup all my files, photos and iTunes music seemed to be like a dream come true. Features a 1TB storage, which is equivalent to 1024GB.
Lets start with the installation. I am using the Windows 7 PC for initial setup. First and most important, you need a Home Network, a wireless router and of course an internet connection. Enclosed in the box is a very basic "Quick Start" guide, I recommend going to the manufacturer's website and downloading the 82 page manual which gives more information. I plugged in power and Ethernet cable to my wireless router. I powered up the drive and inserted the installation CD. I named and registered my drive and added additional user accounts , one for each computer. After that was complete I had to install the software on my other Windows PC and Mac. After I installed the CD on the other PCs, a screen pops up asking to insert the username and password. It's that simple. On my Mac the installation was a little different, but I was able to easily follow the instructions and get it connected using Time Machine with no hassles. One bit of advice for Mac users, if you plan on using Time Machine to back up your files instead of using the optional Memeo Instant Backup, you need to go to Seagate Share Preferences before installing the program on the Mac. Once you are in the preferences page, enable ComputersBackup. Create a password, this password will be used to configure the program when it is installed on your Mac. This information can only be found in the downloaded Users Manual online. Luckily I read the entire manual before attempting to install the Seagate GoFlex. It did take a long, long time to backup all files and folders from all three computers, but I had no bugs or issues. Depending on how many files and folders you are having backed up, it may take all day and night. The program will just run in the background and you do not have to do anything.
The drive will automatically created three folders for each PC account, a public, personal and backup folders. The Seagate Dashboard is the centralized location for all the computer files. This only works with Windows, this is the reason I used my Windows 7 PC as the main system. On the Mac it is Seagate Share and you must use the internet to access the files. You do have the option to use the internet storage base for Windows as well if you like.
There are a few options on how you want to backup your files, I went with the automatic backup. I clicked on instant backups on my menu and the computer shows you the amount of storage that will be included in the backup. If you only what to choose certain files, you can use the advanced settings and drag which files to backup. After clicking "Start Backup", my files started backing up. Whenever I add a new file to the folder or make and changes, the Seagate GoFlex will automatically back up the new file.
Every computer in my home already has a wireless printer, so I really have no use to for the share printer option. But if you do want to use a printer wireless throughout your home network, you must attach the printer via the printer's USB cable to the Seagate GoFlex Drive.
There are many other features and options that can be used, but my primary reason for using this device is to backup the iTunes and photo files on all the computers. When you have thousands of songs and spent several hundreds of dollars on iTunes purchases for every iTunes account on each system, you want to make sure you can access your file in case something terrible happens like the internal hard drive dies. Trust me, I have had this happen to me. I always burn my photos to a CD for added protection, but this way we can share our photos from any computer.
Overall, once you get the unit installed and your files and folders backed up it is extremely easy to use. I guess time will tell if the unit is reliable for retrieving backup files if your system crashes or dies. Hopefully I will not have to find that out! :-)
UPDATE: Sometimes I am not able to gain access to my account online. This is because I use Firefox with a 64-bit operating system and currently "Flash" is not not supported for this OS. I keep getting the "Flash Crash Error Report". However, I can sign in with no troubles using Internet Explorer. So if you have troubles signing into the account online, try a different browser.
If you notice that the drives are not showing under devices in your computer, best thing to do is to unplug it for 15 seconds and then plug it back in to reboot.

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Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Home 2 TB STAM2000100

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D-Link DIR-685 Xtreme N Storage Router and Photo Frame, 2.5" Drive Bay, 3.2" LCD, Draft 11n Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)As a database administrator and programmer, I tend to enjoy tech toys. I have a D-Link DIR-825 Xtreme N Dual Band Gigabit Router sitting on my desk, and was excited to be offered the D-Link DIR-685 Xtreme N Storage Router as a more visually appealing and versatile router.
The D-Link DIR-685 Xtreme N Storage Router offers high speed wired and wireless n connections. Wireless connections can be managed by zones including guest connections. Unlike most routers, the DIR-685 includes network-attached storage (NAS) capabilities and a digital picture frame.
The initial set-up was simple to complete, however testing revealed the network didn't set up correctly. My PC can connect directly to the network, but cannot access any wireless networked devices even though I can ping them. I called customer support, only to be given the run around by people who didn't understand my problem. I asked my other half who is more familiar with networking to speak with customer service. This is when they admitted they didn't understand the problem and escalated to a specialist who would call back later. When the specialist called, the result was basically since I can ping the devices it's not a router problem. So I'm stuck with a network which doesn't work properly and have no clue how to fix.
The router frequently freezes up and drops connections. Freezing is obvious thanks to the digital picture frame as the images just stop rotating. It is not uncommon for me to unplug the router three times a week or more to unfreeze. Meanwhile there is no telling when this unstable router will drop a connection. Since the router sits on my desk, it's easy enough to disconnect and reconnect the network cable, but I'm tired of listening to my other half's constant valid complaints.
The digital frame is a nice touch; however it is way too small. For proper viewing the router would need to be pretty close to the viewer. This may cause a conflict between viewing and placing the router in an appropriate spot for wireless connectivity. Anyplace with too much distance makes the photos too small to distinguish.
I really enjoy using the frame channel with the digital photo frame. Setting up an account at the frame channel website was simple. I was able to sign up for news, weather, sports, stocks, and magazine sites as well as images from my facebook friends.
With the digital picture frame, the router includes an intuitive menu selection for showing stats and settings. The NAS drive (hard drive not included) was also simple to install and put to use.
As a techno-geek I was excited to try out this router. However my network isn't working properly, while D-Link customer service was unwilling to help resolve the problem. The router freezes and drops connections regularly. If I weren't having connectivity and freezing issues, I'd be willing to invest more time determining the networking issue. This problem is huge for a router and overshadows the digital picture frame and NAS system. This router has potential to be a fun versatile device, but I cannot recommend purchasing an expensive product which fails at its primary purpose.
PROS:
Frame channel
Intuitive on-board menu display
NAS (network-attached storage) system
CONS:
Never got it to work properly
Customer service not helpful
Digital frame too small
Regularly freezes and drops connections

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At first glance, D-Link's Xtreme N Storage Router might be mistaken for a basic digital photo frame. Take a closer look, and you will find that this 2009 winner of the prestigious Red Dot Product Design Award is more than a photo frame. It's also a high-performance router that lets you create a wireless network in your home, so you can share high-speed Internet access with multiple computers, game consoles, and media players. You can also use the Xtreme as a network-attached storage (NAS) device that stores your files and prints and shares photos, iTunes libraries, and more.
High-Speed Connection and Full Wireless Coverage for Ease of Use With an integrated 802.11n high-speed band and a 2.4GHz signal, the D-Link Xtreme lets you experience full wireless coverage throughout your network. The powerful MIMO antennae are internal, which means that you can enjoy faster speed and longer range without sacrificing the router's stylish appearance.
The Xtreme also includes Ethernet Gigabit ports for file transfer rates up to 10 times faster than the standard 10/100 Ethernet ports. And thanks to the router's touch-sensitive buttons that let you easily add devices to your network, multiple computers, printers, and even game consoles will be available at your fingertips.
Network-Attached Storage for Easy File Access High-speed connectivity is only the beginning. The DIR-685 can also double as a network-attached storage device (NAS). It has the ability to hold a compact 2.5-inch hard drive. Simply pop open the cover and slide in the drive (sold separately), and the router's built-in NAS functionality will do the rest.
With the Xtreme N Storage Router, you can safely store files on your home network and access them wherever you go. Take your laptop with you, connect to the Internet, and then retrieve your files from the Xtreme using the router's built-in FTP server.
BitTorrent Support and Video Streaming for Versatility The Xtreme includes the latest BitTorrent software support, so you can access and store digital media directly from the Internet without the need for your computer to be turned on or connected. For extra large files, you can get the download process started and then walk away with the confidence that your video clips or songs will be on the system's hard drive when you return.
The built-in Universal Plug-and-Play server allows you to easily stream video files through a compatible media player onto your television. You can even stream files from your Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 gaming systems.
Digital Frame Lets You Share Photos, Print Photos, and More The Xtreme also includes FrameChannel software. Once you set up a free account, you can begin sharing your latest photos with family and friends using Flickr, Picasa, Facebook, and other popular photo sharing sites. With two USB 2.0 ports, you can even connect to a printer to print your photos.
Better still, you can use the Xtreme to subscribe to your favorite RSS feeds. Get the latest news, stock updates, sports scores, time, date, weather conditions, and more--all directly from your frame.
What's in the Box Xtreme N Storage Router, CAT5 Ethernet cable, stand, power adapter, and CD-ROM with Installation Wizard and product documentation.

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