Just landed back in the UK (after a pretty long 4 week work stint over in San Francisco) to receive the news that HP are sending a Mediasmart Server overnight to me, and it’ll be with me tomorrow. I’ll be taking a good look at the unit over the weekend, so keep a look out for a few posts with impressions and a full review some time in the next week or so.
I’ve also got a Norco DS-520 waiting for me, so it’s going to be a busy few days!
Good to be home! (For two weeks, then off to Shanghai/Tokyo/Seoul).
November 15th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Welcome back Terry. Looking forward to the HP review.
November 15th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Clocking up the airmiles!!! - Looking forward to the review as I’m still undersided as to whether to build or buy’ !!
November 15th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
You’re quite a busy guy, Terry!
Can’t wait for the review.
I’m also still not sure what I want to buy. But I’m thinking of keeping the hardware I got now, wich is running the CTP version at the moment. Runs very smooth! 
November 15th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
I just logged in to find an email from Amazon stating that my server has shipped today!
I am not sure if this is real, or a mistake, but I will be monitoring it closely!
- Kevin
November 15th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I look forward to your review. I was wondering if you might look into something that’s been nagging at me about HP’s server while you’re reviewing it: does HP provide a method for recovery of the server (not backing up the server, but restoring the core OS).
Since there isn’t a video port or a DVD drive, there isn’t any way to interact with the server until it has booted the WHS OS. So I am curious if HP provides a means to recover to the factory default configuration (even possibly by means of an external DVD drive). I would love to think that the server is my backup solution, and that shouldn’t need to be recovered, but hard drives do die among other things that could incapacitate a server.
Other than this one question, I am instantly sold on HP’s solution, and I am already completely sold on WHS itself.
November 15th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
HP supply a server recovery disk to help you restore your server. Basically, you place the server in a “reinstall” state via a button on the rear, and then place the disk in one of your home computers on the network. The recovery is performed across the network - pretty cool, eh?
Terry
November 15th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Kevin
Do let us know if you get it!
Terry
November 15th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
That is very cool Terry! Thanks for the info, sounds like a definate buy now. I can’t wait to program some home automation apps and a home theater controler for it.
November 15th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Kevin,
I doubt that email from Amazon is a mistake. On the HP webcast last week, HP stated they expected them to start shipping this week. That was in one of the side chat question/answer sessions that were text only, so not everyone may have seen that reply.
I look forward to your review Terry!
November 15th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Woah! Great news. I too was concerned about how to restore the system so will look forward to your review.
I’m over in the USA for the next two weeks so if I can pick up an EX while over there I think I will do so and save some cash.
I’ve added a link to this site from mine as I believe this site is ‘the’ WHS site around. Each day I eagerly await your latest news!
Keep up the good work.
Nigel
November 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am
My RTM version running on an old dog just announced that it will run out in a couple of weeks. I already decided to buy the EX475, but it looks like we won’t be seeing them for god knows how long here in Australia. Tried to order one from Amazon.com but they won’t ship outside the US. I can’t believe I’m going to have to buy an OEM copy of WHS at $200+ just to tide me over for a few weeks until I can buy $800 worth of hardware which will come free with the OS bundled for free!!!! Not happy.
November 16th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Hi Nigel
You won’t find it in US stores (and then only a few) until early December - your best bet is to buy from Amazon US and get it shipped to wherever you’re staying - a friend of mine just did that with a digital photo frame and it worked out perfectly.
Cheers
Terry