Iomega 33784 Gigabit Ethernet 1HD X 500GB StorCenter Network Storage

List Price: $208.99 Discount Price: $189.00

Features:

• 500GB network storage with Gigabit ethernet
• Supports Microsoft (CIFS/SMB), Linux/Unix (NFS), Apple (AFP) and Apple Bonjour, Internet (HTTP 1.1), and FTP protocols
• Two USB ports for expanding storage with media and print server capability
• 1-year limited warranty
• Device measures 4.9 x 1.7 x 8 inches (WxHxD)

Accessories:

LaCie 301257U 1 TB 2big Network Attached Storage Hard Drive with 2-disk RAID

Customer Reviews:

Not ready for prime time [Posted on 2008-01-12]
I recently bought this product, specifically because I needed both backup and print server capabilities for my home wireless setup, which includes Mac OS-X and Windows XP machines.

The first thing I noticed is that the drive is extremely loud. The culprit here seems to be the airflow, not the machinery, since it's just about silent if I block the air exhausts in the back of the device (clearly, a VERY short-term solution.) Don't plan to share your work or living space with this gadget.

I plugged it into my wireless router for use as a network drive, and discovered that set-up is a pain in the neck, because the instructions are so opaque. (You're told to enter the "printer address", for example, and if you don't know that means "//Iomega-01c516/Printer1", well, good luck to you.) The software at first did not find the drive on the network; the installer's "help" window said it did not work with this model drive, while the manual insisted it could do so. Fortunately, the manual was correct, and after a reboot I was able to find and mount the drive. Mapping the drive took some experimenting as well - the instructions don't mention that you can't do this until you've set up users and passwords and shared folders (another project in itself, with no guidance about what the heck it is that you're doing.) And it asked for a user name and password, leaving me to guess if that's the XP admin password, the drive admin password, or a drive user name and password. It was not the user name the software threw up by default, nor was it my email address, which -bizarrely- was the other option in the drop-down list. (Are you getting the picture here?)

Oh, and forget about Mac OS-X Leopard - the software launched by the installer CD "quit unexpectedly". Restarting and relaunching didn't help. So much for my "network storage solution". And the print server doesn't support my printer (an HP PSC 1210xi). Discovering this AFTER buying the drive was a real downer. AND, from reading various forums, the print server is only capable of handling small files (a few pages of text, and definitely no photos. ) Iomega doesn't tell you any of this up front, which is unforgivable.

Hours of Googling and reading various forums hasn't come up with any fixes for these problems -- although it does reveal that I'm not alone.

I realize that there are some good reviews out there, so evidently this thing works for some people: those who are experienced in setting up networks, who have all-Windows networks, and who are lucky enough to have a printer actually supported by the device. (People who write magazine reviews, for example.) If you share those qualifications, this may well be the network drive of your dreams.

SO ... do I downgrade my Mac OS back to the earlier version, and buy a new printer (and hope it's supported), or do I send this undercooked turkey back to the kitchen? HAH!

All in all, this purchase was a disaster, and I wasted uncounted hours turning the air blue while trying to get it to do just the basic stuff it's supposed to be able to do. It's the first product I've ever sent back purely because of crappy performance.

Very good product [Posted on 2008-01-14]
Note: This review is being written upon initial setup, not extended use/experience with this product.

Setup was very easy, transfer rate is very good. Doesn't require dedicated client machine software to connect/locate!! Very happy with it so far.

Good file server on the cheap [Posted on 2008-06-01]
A 500gb external drive that is easily shareable by many computers is a bargain. True, the fan noise is noticeable especially for 10 seconds at startup, but poses no problem considering the bang for the buck. Setup is not totally straightforward, but after some trial and error missteps, all computers found the device.

Documentation could be improved and the setup and manage screens are NOT intuitive, but the time expended figuring all this out is well worth it. Having a print server is a bonus although a tad slow and and occasional hiccup are drawbacks.

Regardless of these warts, the end result is far cheaper and quicker to get going than a full-blown file server of any flavor (Windows, Linux, etc.) I give 5 stars for bang for buck and simply live with the warts.

Iomega StorCenter [Posted on 2008-06-13]
This one is a mixed bag. As a storage device it is fine. However, the print server function is very funky. I had it working for awhile, but now the printer is not visible when plugged in. And, it took an hour on the phone with the tech person to get it to work in the first place. The problem was simple, but the manual was a joke. You can supposedly set it to hibernate after a period of inactivity, but that does not work. Finally, it is very noisy.

Iomega 33784 [Posted on 2008-06-23]
This item seems to do the job,,,BUT it is very noisy!!!! I called the Iomega help center and was told is noisy because it has a cooling fan and is is just the was it is! He told me to put it in a different room or closet! Not really helpful!!!

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