Most people will take a look at the HP LX195 MediaSmart Home Server and be a little confused as to what exactly you’re getting for your money. PC’s are becoming popular as media centers and this MediaSmart Server takes it one step further. For families who share one main computer where all of their music, movies and pictures are held, this is not going to be much help; you’d be better off with an external hard drive. However, for families living in the 21st century with multiple computers and a need to get data both back and forth and backed up, this could be the perfect addition to your home network.
Of course, the LX195 offers a lot more than just a hub and safe for your data. It has a thoughtfully designed operating system that will keep track of your antivirus protection and windows updates in case you forget. It provides automatic backups. And best of all, it plays well with ps3 and xbox 360 so you can stream video to your tv, which is where you probably want it.
Now for the shortcomings – there are a few big ones for this bottom-of-the-line system. Due to it’s price point, you’ll be getting an adequate, but modest processor. Also, despite how cheap RAM is, you’ll only get 1GB. Furthermore, the 640GB HDD may be more than enough space for most families, but is definitely a major thing to consider before you buy. Despite having 4 USB 2.0 ports, the expandability is meager. Unlike the more costly EX line of MediaSmart Servers, the LX195 has no extra internal bays. USB connections are slower than internal and an external drive will cost more than an internal one. Also, many USB drives require their own power outlet. At this price, it’s hard to expect too much more, but a 1TB HDD and 2GB RAM would have bumped this Server up a notch (and a star).
Overall, I recommend this Server to homes with multiple computers and definitely to those with a video game system or computer capable of streaming network content to their tv. If you are in the bad habit of not backing up your data, then this was definitely designed for you. Those looking for the ultimate tech toy for streaming HD movies and backing up multiple 1TB discs should look on to the EX line or elsewhere.