Best Wireless Router For Home

Showing posts with label hp. Show all posts

HP TouchSmart 300-1025 20-Inch Black Desktop PC (Windows 7 Home Premium) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had the Touchsmart for over a month now and while do not regret settling for the AMD version, I sure would have liked the Intel one (pricier). The Touchsmart software doesn't run smoothly, it takes a while to load and sometimes does not work. The first days it would simply not work at all, but after I did a software update thru HP's system doctor suite, it improve, but still freezes sometimes.
In general, it's is not as the simulated images on TV or You Tube, it takes a while to load each program (videos, music, photos, canvas, etc) specially those media relates like music and photos (which was the whole idea of having the media computer after all). Once it's loaded it's fun to play with, to be fair.
My wife is satisfied with it, as her Photoshop and Illustrator run much better here than in the 6 year old computer that we had and the 21" LCD screen is beautiful and larger compared to our old CRT 15" monitor, plus the touch feature, which she really doesn't use.
I haven't been able to make it work with my LAN cable from the router, it is only using the wireless connection and somehow I think it could be faster if accessing the Internet through the cable, just a thought, probably wrong.
Windows 7 looks pretty much the same as Vista, which I have been using at the office for 2 years. But my Intel Centrino Toshiba Portege surely performs better.
Conclusion, I am glad I bought it, technology works great, sounds very good too, visual is a plus, much better than what I used to have at home, however, would like to confirm whether the 23" (which I don't) Intel version (Touchsmart 600) is worth the extra $500.
Will tell you more in a couple of months.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP TouchSmart 300-1025 20-Inch Black Desktop PC (Windows 7 Home Premium)

From the elegant design to the advanced features to the incredibly powerful suite of built-for-touch applications, the HP TouchSmart PC redefines what touch can do for you—and what you can do with a touch.

Click here for more information about HP TouchSmart 300-1025 20-Inch Black Desktop PC (Windows 7 Home Premium)

HP DeskJet 6540 Color Inkjet Printer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)HP Deskjet 6540 [PC Pro]
COMPANY: Hewlett - Packard
DATE: Nov 04
Verdict: Excellent text quality, high speed, expandability and smart styling aren't quiteenough to make this basic printer competitive.

The 6540 is the first unit we've seen from HP's all new Deskjet line-up, a range that's been home to several Recommended and A-List award-winners.
Compared to Canon's Pixma iP3000, the 6540 is a fairly basic unit - there's just a single printer tray, no duplex or CD printing, and no direct-print-from-camera functions, yet it still manages to be almost ?30 more expensive. In terms of build quality though, it's streets ahead of the Canon. The dapper metal shell of the HP is much slicker than the iP3000's silver plastic, and the whole unit suffers from much less rattle. The lid is even geared so that it closes softly rather than slamming shut.
This attention to detail is carried over to the button panel on the left; the keys have a positive clicking action and are smartly lit. The bottom button switches between printing modes (draft, normal and best), though the printer software can override this if you'd prefer. Paper follows the traditional HP U-feed path - not a problem unless you want to print on non-standard or thicker media - and there's the usual slot for feeding envelopes. You'll also notice the inclusion of an upstream USB port on the front - not for connecting a camera, but as an easy way to connect a laptop. We're not convinced it's a must-have feature, but it's there if you want it.
In testing, text documents were near laser-quality, with crisp, black and well-formed characters on default settings, while draft mode only added slight feathering. Print speeds aren't staggering, but with our 25-page text document taking four minutes, six seconds to run through on draft mode, and only a minute more for default, the Deskjet 6540 should be fast enough for all but the most demanding users. For extra speed, we found fast draft mode to yield an impressive 21.4 ppm, with still reasonable results.
Photo printing is slightly more disappointing. Though prints are delivered in a timely fashion - one minute, 54 seconds for a best-quality borderless 6 x 4in photo - colours are a little washed out, and detail is softer than we'd like. Some prints also exhibit a slight embossed effect, with ink appearing to sit on top of the printed surface.
The black cartridge can be swapped for a photo cartridge to turn the printer from a four- to a six-colour device. Results were certainly smoother, and though colours still lacked punch and the detail was a little fudged, photo prints of this quality are uncommon in a sub-?100 printer. An additional grey cartridge is also available for smooth monochrome prints. On the plus side, it means you can choose how much to invest in the machine as a photo device; we just wish there was somewhere to put whichever cartridge you're not using.
It isn't just the ink that's modular. HP offers a range of accessories, including an automatic duplexer, complete with separate small paper sheet feeder. There's also an additional 250-sheet paper input tray. Compared to what the Canon iP3000 is offering, however, these aren't cheap, costing another ?40 each.
If you're looking for a cheap workhorse inkjet, the basic model is a good choice. Its photo printing is respectable for a printer at this price, and when you add to this smart styling, low running costs, and superb build quality, the Deskjet 6540 deserves a PC Pro Recommended accolade. For sheer flexibility and value for money, though, the Canon is a better choice.
By Christopher PhinHope this helps you out.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP DeskJet 6540 Color Inkjet Printer

The HP DeskJet 6540 color inkjet printer offers versatile performance and connectivity and a sleek-looking low-profile design. Get fast 30 ppm black printing or up to 20 ppm in color or sharp resolutions that are fine enough even for detailed photos.
The 6540 produces crisp 1,200 dpi resolution in black, up to 4,800 optimized dpi in color. The standard four-color printing yields high-quality prints, or for your finest creations you can choose six-color printing (requires HP 99 photo print cartridge, sold separately). The 6540 also offers the choice of printing photos with or without borders on a variety of media types and sizes, and includes HP photo printing software for easy task management and image editing. An optional duplexing accessory is available for two-sided documents.
The HP 6540 offers versatile connectivity. It features two USB ports, one in the back and one in the front. An optional external print server and optional 802.11b wireless accessory are supported for further expansion. The unit is backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the BoxHP Deskjet 6540 printer, HP 96 black ink cartridge (C8767W), HP 97 tri-color ink cartridge (C9363W), HP Photo Printing software (Windows only), Printer software (Windows and Macintosh), User's guide on CD-ROM, setup poster, reference guide, power supply, power cord; printer cable not included; HP 99 photo inkjet cartridge not included
See for Yourself this printer in action

Click here for more information about HP DeskJet 6540 Color Inkjet Printer

HP Pavilion G70-250US 17.0-Inch Laptop Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I don't know about the other reviewer's experience, but I can say that I love everything about this computer. The screen is bright and the colors are vivid. I have listened to other laptop speakers, and these sound very good. The keyboard is wonderful to type on. I had to uninstall some bloatware, but that was expected. Will upgrade to a 12 cell battery as soon as I can afford to. I highly recommend this laptop to anyone who wants a well made machine. Read the specs listed above and you will find that this machine has everything you would want in a laptop or desktop replacement. Con: somewhat large and slightly heavy, but then again your going to carry it in a bag anyways!

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Pavilion G70-250US 17.0-Inch Laptop

Eliminate the black bars that appear when you're watching DVD movies or HDTV content when you view them on the HP Pavilion g70-250us notebook PC, which has a 17-inch screen. Pared down to the essentials, HP's G60 series is defined by minimalist lines. High-gloss reflective top cover and palm rest area surfaces contrast cleanly with matte surface everywhere else, and the streamlined look is enhanced with a color-matched keyboard and touchpad.
Chat face to face, or take pictures and video clips with the webcam and integrated digital microphone. Play games and enhance multimedia with the Intel GMA 4500M with up to 1309 MB of total available graphics memory. And enjoy movies or music in seconds with the external DVD or music buttons to launch HP QuickPlay (which bypasses the boot process).
It offers dual-core productivity from its 2.0 GHz Intel Pentium T4200 processor for excellent multitasking. Other features include a 320 GB hard drive, 3 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum capacity), dual-layer DVD±RW drive (which also burns CDs), quad-mode Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), 5-in-1 memory card reader, and pre-installed Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1).
The Basics
Processor: The 2.0 GHz Intel Pentium T4200 dual-core processor delivers additional computing resources and help expand the PC's capabilities by providing higher throughput and simultaneous computing. You'll be able to perform multiple tasks such as digital rendering and gaming all while running virus scan or other background tasks seamlessly. And its Intel 64 architecture is also ready for tomorrow's 64-bit applications, and offers enhanced performance through improved virtual memory. Each core shares 1 MB of L2 cache (for a 2 MB total), and they have an 800 MHz front-side bus. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

Hard Drive: The generous 320 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive (7200 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect for storing a vast multimedia collection or for editing digital video. This SATA hard drive has a 3Gb/s interface speed that enables up to 300MB/s data transfer rates (double the speed of the current SATA interface of 1.5Gb/s).

Memory: The 3 GB of installed RAM (PC6400, 1 x 2 GB, 2 x 1 GB) helps boost the amount of available video RAM that's shared with this notebook's video card. It also offers a fast 800 MHz speed. This notebook has a 4 GB maximum RAM capacity (2 x 2 GB). To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.

DVD/CD Drive: This multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 4x DVD-R DL Write Once, 2.4x DVD+R DL Write Once, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 8x DVD-R, 4x DVD-RW, 16x DVD-ROM, 40x CD-R, 24x CD-RW, and 40x CD-ROM speeds.
This LightScribe DVD±RW drive lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images on to CDs and DVDs . Your software, PC and discs work together for a no-hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label--anything from a simple title to a full-disc work of art.

Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a 101-key keyboard and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical/horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad. It also includes two quick-launch buttons (HP QuickPlay Music and DVD).
Screen, Video & Audio You'll enjoy razor-sharp graphics and widescreen movies with the 17-inch WXGA high-definition screen, which has a widescreen resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels--perfect for watching DVD movies the way they were meant to be seen. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500M, which uses shared video memory (up to 1309 MB allocated from the system memory). This graphics card is built with Intel Clear Video technology, which delivers clearer, more detailed images by eliminating many of the jagged edges and video artifacts seen when viewing interlaced content and features powerful color control to ensure videos are not too dark, overly bright, or washed out. The Altec Lansing speakers provide exceptional sound.
Networking, Connectivity & Expansion Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with the integrated quad-mode Wi-Fi chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and Wi-Fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great for closed office environments). It comes with the following external connectors:
3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
1 HDMI output (for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable)
Analog video output: 1 VGA
1 headphone jack
1 microphone jack
5-in-1 memory card reader (Secure Digital, MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, xD Picture Card)
10/100 Fast Ethernet networking
56K modem (V.90)

Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 (32-bit) is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.
Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.
Preloaded Software
HP MediaSmart Software Suite: Your one-stop multimedia and entertainment center to create photo slideshows, share personal videos, listen to your favorite music playlists and watch DVD movies.
muvee autoProducer Basic: Automatically create professional looking home videos and burn to DVD.
Cyberlink DVD Suite Deluxe: Automatically fix and edit videos and create CDs and DVDs. Edit, burn and archive data to discs.
Microsoft Works 9: Includes a word processor, spreadsheet, database and calendar.
Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition 2007 (60-day trial version).
Adobe Reader 8: Read and print PDF files.
Norton Internet Security 2009 protects your PC and your identity when you email, bank and shop online; 60 days of protection updates included.

Dimensions & Weight This notebook PC measures 15.59 x 11.22 x 1.63 inches and weighs 7.55 pounds.
Power It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 1.5 hours (depending on usage).
What's in the Box This package contains the HP Pavilion g70-250us notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 30 days from date of purchase.
Reduce your impact on the environment with this Energy Star-certified system and HP's innovative take-back options, including trade-in, recycling and donation.

Click here for more information about HP Pavilion G70-250US 17.0-Inch Laptop

HP ProCurve Switch 1400-8G 8-Port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Network Switch Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)These are great switches and just as fast as the compitition with ONE exception.. THEY DONT BREAK!
I've used them all and the major complaint I have with most home switches is the HEAT they generate. You can put money down that Your Cisco Linksys or DLINK switch is going to last about a year. They do give you a warranty and an easy replacement but I would rather buy a switch that I didnt need to exorcise the return policy every 1-2 years thank you very much.
The ProCurve Switches use external brick type power supplies that keep the heat away from your switch processor. This May be an issue for Business applications that use rack mounting, but for home use ProCurve hits a Home Run!

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP ProCurve Switch 1400-8G 8-Port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Network Switch

The HP ProCurve Switch 1400-8G is a small form factor gigabit unmanaged stackable switch with 8 ports of 10/100/1000. It features fan-less for silent operation. Primary InformationNetworking Type:SwitchForm Factor:ExternalData Transfer Rate:1 GbpsData Link Protocol:Ethernet; Fast Ethernet; Gigabit EthernetNetworking / Ports Qty:8 x Ethernet 10Base-T Ethernet 100Base-TX Ethernet 1000Base-TVoltage Required:AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )Flow control auto-uplink (auto MDI/MDI-X) ; Compliant Standards :FCC Class A certified VCCI EN 60950 ICES-003 IEC 60950 UL 60950 CSA 22.2 No. 60950 FCC Part 15 B EN 55022SystemNetworking / Compliant Standards:IEEE 802.3 IEEE 802.3u IEEE 802.3ab IEEE 802.1p IEEE 802.3xInterfaces:8 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45UNSPSC CodeUNSPSC Code:43222612Product IDUPC:882780979895Manufacturer Part:J9077A#ABA

Click here for more information about HP ProCurve Switch 1400-8G 8-Port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Network Switch

HP Mini 311-1025NR 11.6-Inch Black Netbook - Up to 6.25 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this netbook off of hp.com, not off Amazon, just to be clear. I'm reviewing this model as it contains windows 7, not XP. My specs are as follows:
* Black Swirl
* Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
* Intel(R) Atom(TM) Processor N280 (1.66GHz, 512KB L2, 667Mhz FSB)
* 2GB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)
* 250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
* NVIDIA ION with a 5-in-1 Digital Media slot (For the N280 processor)
* 11.6" diagonal HD LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1366 x 768)
* HP Mini Webcam
* Wireless-G Card
* HP Color Matching Keyboard
* 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* External LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD+/-RW w/Double Layer
* Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
* HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
Price: $579.98
Tax: $52.52
Shipping: $29.00
GRAND TOTAL: $661.50
1st impressions....quite impressed. Size is very convenient, I find the keyboard comfortable. The trackpad is way too sensitive and I had to disable tap functions just to use it.
I think these 11.6" screens are really the sweet spot for screen resolution, I find it very comfortable for viewing and light work. I don't like dim screens in battery mode, so my battery life is about 4 hours.
It's definitely not as fast as my Core 2 duo, but hey...its a netbook. I'm using a logitech nano wireless mouse which works great other than it prevents the computer from re-booting or starting if left plugged in during re-start. I still have to iron that out.
The external DVD drive works well, although it adds weight to the package. If going to the office, I will probably leave it at home.
This is my first time using windows 7 and its definitely much more friendly than vista, with limited pop ups. I haven't tried out any HD quality movies yet, but regular AVI's look pretty smooth.
I'm definitely looking forward to the new version of flash, and I intend to try out Warcraft III on here one of these days. Still a work in progress. All in all, very fun to use, uber convenient, light, excellent screen resolution for a netbook, and a good deal of power for its class. I'll see if I can post product pics of my own netbook.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Mini 311-1025NR 11.6-Inch Black Netbook - Up to 6.25 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium)

The Internet is at the center of modern life keeping you connected and informed through email, IMs, RSS feeds, social networking sites and Search. Keeping up often requires time shifting with companion devices like netbooks. Powered by energy-efficient Intel Atom processors, the HP Mini 311 is optimized for Web access and can handle standard productivity apps - but is light enough to carry everywhere at just 3.22 lbs. Its 16:9 11.6-Inch diagonal HD LED BrightView display makes viewing HD content and two documents side by side possible. The 92 percentage of full-size keyboard enables much more efficient and comfortable use than texting (or typing on smartphone keyboards) for most. The touchpad has buttons at the bottom for intuitive use. The HP Mini 311 is the perfect device for staying productive, informed, in touch and entertained on the go.

Click here for more information about HP Mini 311-1025NR 11.6-Inch Black Netbook - Up to 6.25 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium)

HP Officejet 6310 All-in-One Printer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recently upgraded to the HP6310 from the HP7110 a machine I was more than happy with. The move has been excellent, all functions are faster particularly color printing, the unit is significantly more compact and the quality of images are also a serious upgrade. The unit has almost no shake and is extremely quiet in operation, particularly in comparison with my old 7110. In addition the price differential between this machine and the much inferior HP5610 is very small.
New features include the ability to take several formats of camera memory cards and read directly from them to print contact sheets, six ink color with inkjet photo ink and up to 24 x 8.5 prints. There are also wired and wireless network options etc but I have not used them.
Installation was a breeze, I was up and running in maybe 10 minutes, the controls are intuitive but if needed the instruction book is unusually easy to follow.
Why not five stars: it drinks ink and the cartridges are small -that gets expensive.
If you can live with the ink issue this is a great machine for the home office or small business.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Officejet 6310 All-in-One Printer

The HP Officejet 6310 All-in-One is primed for meeting all your home document and photo printing needs. It can print and copy at up to 30 pages per minute (ppm) in black and 24 ppm in color1. It has built-in Ethernet networking connectivity that lets you print, fax, scan, and copy from multiple computers--perfect for your home or small office. Other special features include printing photos direct from a memory card2, PictBridge enabled camera, or mobile camera phone, a 35-page automatic document feeder,and a junk fax barrier3.
Simple office networking You can easily share your HP OfficeJet 6310 all-in-one with multiple computers using its built-in Networking connectivity. Plug your all-in-one into the Ethernet port of a wireless router for wireless printing4 and more--with just a few mouse clicks you'll be sharing the HP OfficeJet 6310’s amazing functions across your small office in no time.
Breakthrough performance you can rely on With breakthrough print, scan, fax, and copy speeds and performance, the HP OfficeJet 6310 makes an efficient tool for your small business or home office. Print and copy document speeds reach up to 30 ppm black and 24 ppm color. It has color fax capabilities and a junk fax barrier that can eliminate future unwanted junk faxes. The 35-sheet auto document feeder lets you quickly and conveniently copy, scan, and fax multi-page documents.
Exceptional essentials
Cover all your office needs: print, fax, scan, and copy
Print and copy in laser-quality text and get true-to-life photos in six-ink color with HP's Vivera Inks5
Print and copy super fast, at up to 30 pages per minute in black and 24 in color
Transfer and print fast with the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connection
Get outstanding scans with the 2400 x 4800 dpi optical resolution
Make crisp color copies without turning on your computer
Connect several computers via the built-in wired networking;
Print wirelessly by plugging into the Ethernet port of a wireless router
Innovative extras
Optimize print and copy quality for different paper types with the automatic paper sensor
Keep junk faxes away with the junk fax barrier
Automatically remove red eye from photos and enhance detail in dark areas with HP's Real Life technologies
Print photo panoramas-with or without borders-at up to 8.5 x 24"6
Copy, scan and fax multipage documents using the 35-sheet automatic document feeder
Print photos without a PC when using memory cards7, a camera phone7 or a PictBridge-enabled camera; copy photos from memory cards to your USB flash drive
Resist photo fading for generations8 and maintain the quality of laser-quality text for decades9
Send and receive photos without large e-mail attachments with HP Photosmart Sharing10
Annotate documents with HP Document Viewer
Easy, efficient supplies
Save ink and money with HP inkjet cartridges
Stay on top of ink replacement with HP SureSupply11: receive alerts when a cartridge is low, monitor its remaining life, and enjoy easy online ordering or check stock and prices at nearby stores

What's in the box HP Officejet 6310 All-in-One, HP 98 Black Inkjet Print Cartridge (11 ml), HP 95 Tri-color Inkjet Print Cartridge (7 ml), HP Photosmart Essential and Premiere Software, setup guide, reference guide, power supply, power cord, and phone cord
1. Print speed may vary on the type of output 2. Memory card slots support Secure Digital/MultiMedia Card, CompactFlash Type I and II, Memory Memory Stick, xD-Picture Card, Memory Stick Duo (with adapter, not included. Purchase separately), separately), Mini SD (with adapter, not included. Purchase separately). 3. Requires caller ID service, not included. Price and service contract must be negotiated separately. 4. Wireless printing requires HP bt450 Bluetooth Wireless Printer Adapter (not included, purchased separately). 5. Six-ink color requires HP 99 Photo Inkjet Print Cartridge, sold separately. 6. Borderless printing up to 8.5 x 24" using brochure and photo paper. 7. For Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard, CompactFlash Type I and II, Memory Stick, xD-Picture Card, plus Memory Stick Duo and Mini SD (both with adapter, not included). 8. Based on Wilhelm-Research.com light-fade testing under glass (as of 1/05) using HP 93 Tri-color and optional HP 99 Photo Inkjet Print Cartridges on HP Premium Plus photo papers. 9. Based on paper industry predictions for acid-free papers; colorant stability data at room temperature based on similar systems tested as per ISO 11798 and ISO 18909. 10. Internet connection required. 11. Available only with original HP supplies; Internet access required.

Click here for more information about HP Officejet 6310 All-in-One Printer

HP X280N MediaSmart Connect Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)August 3rd, 2008
I have been using a home built media center for about 1.5 years. It holds most of the kids movies (DIVX & XVID) and does recording of SD and HDTV. The main issue I had was that it was Noisy and generated a lot of heat in the media cabinet where system and other components were mounted. My goal was to move my MCE to the basement and use extenders in the house. I had a couple of requirements before I would switch this out for an extender.
1) WIFE Friendly
2) Support HDTV
2) Must play Amazon UNBOX Files
3) Must play DIVX (XVID) formats.
4) Must be able to schedule recordings from the Extender
Thursday I got the MediaSmart Connect and started with the install... When I first set it up, I installed the HP Software and went through the procedure for connecting the extender to the my Vista MCE system. Initially I was a little disappointed, it was slow and Amazon Unbox videos would not play. I also noticed that my MCE system was Locking up. I decided that this might be more due to my MCE system. So Friday night, I completely re-installed vista, MCE, but did not install the HP software.
Once the system was running (YOU MUST INSTALL SP1), my VISTA MCE system found the extender automatically. It worked GREAT... The MediaSmart Connect was much more responsive, MCE no longer locked up. And best of all Amazon Unbox video's will play through my MediaSmart Connect. I gave it the Wife test last night and she loved it... The with the Main MCE system moved to the basement and only the MediaSmart Connect visible, she was happy. No more noisy fans running and we can now close the doors of the media cabinet with out worrying about overheating.
A couple of Notes:
1) The Media Smart will Play Unbox videos from your MCE Machine, but if you move the storage of the Unbox files to somewhere other then the installed location you may have problems.
2) I am using a wired connection, I have not tested the performance of the wireless side.
3) I am not using the HP software, it is extender mode only.
If you are currently using a Media Center, this system is EASY to add on.... So far I am very pleased, will update this again with any issues I have after I have had a chance to run it for a week or two.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP X280N MediaSmart Connect

HP X280N MediaSmart Receiver. The HP MediaSmart Receiver enables browsing of your entire library of digital photos, music, and HD video even across multiple PCs Access thousands of the best and latest movies, TV shows, videos, and songs from online media. HP¿s simple interface enables you to search for movies, order them, and begin watching them moments after downloading has begun. Unlike other receivers that allow you to access media from only one server at a time, HP¿s MediaSmart receiver automatically aggregates and displays content from all connected PCs or media servers in your home network. Enjoy a full Microsoft Media Center Experience with a single click on your remote. Watch live or pre-recorded TV and access Microsoft¿s online services through the HP MediaSmart Receiver. Integrated 802.11a/b/g/n wireless networking, enables the streaming of high definition video while providing compatibility to existing Wi-Fi networks. A built in HP Pocket Media Drive bay and two USB ports allow direct access to your content stored in mass storage media. HDMI, component, and analog and digital audio outputs provide simple connectivity to your HDTV and audio equipment. The MediaSmart receiver features a dramatic, pianoblack, high gloss, exterior with an HP exclusive Zen imprint pattern. Blends into the living room and adds elegance to any entertainment system. The receiver includes a universal remote control. Use it to access all your content, order movies, or control up to four more entertainment devices.

Click here for more information about HP X280N MediaSmart Connect

HP EX490 1TB Mediasmart Home Server (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm technically inclined, but not an engineer. I have some experience with this topic... I first built my own server with spare parts and run it at my home. I am reviewing this because I bought it for my parents and installed it.
Preface - as of 2010, I've seen a lot of heartache about Mac Compatibility. Please, do some research before purchasing this product for a Mac to see if this will fit your needs. There is a TON of outside forum support about this. Otherwise my original review still stands:
Part 1: The software, and what HP brings to the party:
Windows Home Server is actually a program (based on Windows Server 2003 with enhancements, optimized and pre-configured), and is easy to use in a home. And it is good, all by itself. HP's contributions by adding on its own 'add-ins' make the software better.
As a sample of what this means for you, an example: If you are recording tv shows on in Windows 7 media center you can offload your shows here, and still stream them giving you instant access anytime over your home network from a windows 7 PC. The new update to the software also makes it so you can set windows 7 up to offload your recordings from your Windows 7 pc to the server automatically so you don't tie up your computer's storage space. If you want to take a look at what that kind of pc setup might look like, just search listmania for "Win 7 HTPC build"; I'm the first search hit.
So what does HP bring to this? If you have media files that you want to convert for viewing on a mobile device, HP bundled an add-in transcoding software on this so you can offload that work to server's CPU and not tie up your computer while you'd rather be surfing or playing games or whatever else you do to make things better (Note: HP's transcoding will NOT remove DRM). There are a lot more add-ins they bundle with this, but it's exhaustive and there isn't the space.
Bottom line, there are plenty of 'WHS' solutions. But my take is that HP has put a lot behind making this a great software bundle, and I have to say I'm impressed with the bonus they bring. Emphasis on the word Bonus, because they are 'nice to have-s' not designed for the people who consider them 'must-have-s'. The core functionality of streaming video, storing shares and back-up is what this is designed for. Part deux: What's so great about the hardware.
The pictures make it look big. But it is small - about the size of a small bread box turned on end. I was surprised when I unboxed it. It's also easy to add hard drives. It comes with one, but you'll get hooked and want to add one. Just take out a tray, pop in a recent generation "SATA II" drive and replace the tray in the server and it self configures. I recommend buying one straight away anyway because then you can turn on 'file duplication'. That means the server at your specific direction will keep duplicate copies of folders you select on two separate hard drives in the server as insurance against mechanical failure.
You can also back up the system drive, which I'm learning how to do, and you need an external USB drive to do that.
Energy-wise It pulls about 4 to 6 watts under normal operation. Yet another reason to buy this if you are power conscious. Don't let that figure fool you. There's plenty of hardware oomph for most people's needs.
Part Three - Documentation.
There is a lot of documentation! Just not in the box that comes with the server. WHS started out of a user community/company initiative that blossomed into a server software product that now you are seeing hardware being made for. So, if you aren't sure if this is for you - please take a look online about what other uses this is for and what alternatives are out there.
Summary:
Good build, solid software, continuous integration to Windows backed by a very committed enthusiast community that makes it so you don't have to think 'what if my hard drive crashes/computer shorts out/child vandalizes my computer?
It's automated and low/no maintenance. For a commited user: a 'no-brainer'. For someone who needs to purchase tech support from a computer vendor, I suggest that a home server is not likely a good fit for you. You are probably better off with an online backup service for your needs.
I like this one because it has extra drive bays. There are configurations that just use one hard drive, but I would pass on that.
If you are buying an add on drive, a Western Digital Caviar Black 1 TB Bulk/OEM Hard Drive 3.5 Inch, 32 MB Cache, 7200 RPM SATA II WD1001FALS should work just fine. Update - 7/9/10 WHS (the program, not the HP MediaSmart server) does random things when stuff starts failing, meaning if you ever get random restarts, can't find drives or things like that, it's not the software it's just not that robust to tell you when something is broken. On my HOMEMADE server, I had a stick of ram go bad and it gave me random errors until I figured it out. (But that's no different than any standard computer, just thought it was good to update about how its going)
Also, MSFT is working on a new version of WHS software called "Vail" that is in beta right now. It should handle errors like dying hard drives a bit more cleanly than what some folks are experiencing now...For those of you who are adventurous, I've put a listmania list together for you on how to build your own. http://www.amazon.com/lm/R1NJKRJG6H78L6/ref=cm_lm_pthnk_view?ie=UTF8&lm_bb=

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP EX490 1TB Mediasmart Home Server (Black)

The HP EX490 Media Smart Server is the all-in-one solution to manage your media: a home server that can automatically backup and protect your digital memories, centralize your media and content for sharing with family and friends, and enable you to enjoy your digital media while at home or away.Network-based backup of PCs using Windows Home Server as well as Macs using Apple’s Time Machine.Media streaming of photos, music and videos to PCs, the entertainment center and remote devices including the iPhone.What's in the box: HP EX490 (1TB plus 3 unused expansion bays) MediaSmart Server,Power cord, Ethernet cable, Software installation disc , PC restore disc, Server recovery disc and Setup Poster and HP support guides.One year limited warranty and our dedicated software technical support available from date of purchase both online and by phone.

Click here for more information about HP EX490 1TB Mediasmart Home Server (Black)

HP Wireless G Print Server Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The HP Wireless G Print Server is the one to get if you already have a wireless network and an HP printer. It comes with everything you need to set up the server (cable, directions, driver/software CD) . The "HP Wireless printing Upgrade kit" is really for those you do not have a wireless network and only one computer. The Upgrade Kit requires the computer on which it is installed to be on to use the printer on any other computer. The HP Wireless G Print Server will allow you to print from any computer on your network, not requiring any particular computer to be on.
If you have more than one computer but don't have a wireless network, the best setup is to get a wireless router and set up the wireless network (it is easy nowadays.) This way you can print from any computer using the HP Wireless G Print Server without turning on a "host" computer.
I have been using the HP Wireless G Print Server for a month now and it works faultlessly. I did have an issue with my HP D5460 printer sending back the ink levels. I uninstalled the print server and then reinstalled it and it works fine now. The directions were unclear on the order of installation of a printer and the print server. Here is the best way to install:
First install the printer on each computer.
Disconnect the printer from all computers.
Install the print server on each computer, following the installation instructions for connecting the printer to the server.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Wireless G Print Server

Item #: R85799. Upgrade your printer to wireless printing with the Wireless G Print Server. It works with most HP printers/All-in-Ones and any wireless PC. Product Description: HP Wireless G Print Server - print serverDevice Type: Print serverForm Factor: ExternalInterface (Bus) Type: USBData Link Protocol: IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11gManufacturer Warranty: 1 year warranty Customers also search for: Discount HP Wireless G Print Server - Print Server, Buy HP Wireless G Print Server - Print Server, Wholesale HP Wireless G Print Server - Print Server, 0883585814701, Q6301A#B1H, Print Servers

Click here for more information about HP Wireless G Print Server

HP EX485 MediaSmart Home Server Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)UPDATED at Bottom on 05/05/2009
Hi All,
I have been using different types of NAS solutions, including a Drobo, for a while now and wanted to give the Windows Home Server solution a shot for my home. I am an IT person by trait. I know that it is fairly easy to build a small home server but I had heard so much about the HP interface that I wanted to give this a shot. Unfortunately I did not buy from AMAZON and had to use a third party to get the item....but that's neither here or there. My review is about the product itself.
The box includes the server, the rescue cd, the restore cd, and a cd for both mac/pc workstations. Remove the item from the box, plug in the power and a ethernet cord to your router/switch and you are ready to roll. The first setup of the client software MUST be done on a PC so that you can set the server up. Very easy and very well made software that will guide you through the entire process.
(A Side Note - HP Recommends that you use a router that has UPNP on it so that the remote capabilities of this server can be used without issues. A list of some routers is below. I was unfortunately using Apple Airport Extreme Base Stations but had a handy dandy D-Link DIR-655 at home...which I switched to immediately and permanently so I can use this server. Product Link for DIR-655: D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Wireless Router
Once the setup process is concluded (5-10 minutes) you are able to start using the server at once and create user accounts, media syncing, iTunes servers, etc. Very Very simplistic approach. One of the reasons I give it a 5/5. One feature that I want to mention, which puts this device over the others, is that it has a built in plug-in that allows me to use an Amazon s3 account to backup the entire server...normally you would have to use a 3rd party software (jungle disk, which i own) to do this but having it built into the server and having the server manage the backup to the cloud is amazing.
MAC Specific: I wanted to see how this server would work on a MAC and what the ramifications would be of using time machine over the network without having to buy Apple's time capsule. Again, very easy. I installed the software on my macbook pro. It has a section where you define the amount of space you want to use on the server for your time machine backup...10-20-30-40-etc gb.... Set the space, it creates the area on the server, hit the start button, go to time machine preferences and use this new hard drive which shows up in the list as HP Mediasmart Server and VOILA....you are time machining away at gigabit speeds. Did I mention the ethernet on this is Gigabit.
Dynamic DNS: We all have some sort of broadband if we consider devices like this and most of us do not opt to pay the exorbitant costs for static ip addresses....instead we just use DHCP from Cable or DSL. Those addresses change..maybe not often..but they do change. One of the features of WHS is to allow you remote access from where ever you may be...and or for a family member to get in and take a look at some files you have stored for them...pictures, music, etc... The server has a built in feature to allow you to use two or three services....TZO (if I remember correctly is one that is included free for one year--allows custom domain names), Microsoft offers a free domain if you have a FREE Microsoft Live ID. I opted for the free service as it allows me to use a simple name like tarun . homeserver . com. You simply pick a name for your server (tarun) and it goes and checks if it is available...if it is you are all set. This is when a UPNP router comes into play so that media smart can set the router up to allow incoming connections to the proper ports for the server....VOILA...works like a charm. I can get to the server from work and upload files, download, etc....very very nice and very easy.
I can get in to much broader detail about the setup but then that would defeat the purpose of this review. I think I have already typed to my hearts content. I really love this device...it is worth its price. I am sure we can all build it cheaper and smaller...but hey...for me I don't want to tinker with hardware since it is time consuming and I would much rather hang out with the kids.
This is a great device which, backed by HP, will only get better with time.
5/5
ps. If you have any questions...please feel free to comment and I will answer them as best as I can.
Quick Note 02-28-2009: If you are a PC user then the WHS agent will pull all of your music and pictures to the server and make them available...this includes iTunes music and playlists. If you are a MAC user...u are out of luck for automation...but you can copy your entire iTunes music folder over to the WHS Manually. WHS will make the iTunes library and playlists available to all network users. I moved my iTunes from my mac to the WHS and then simply told iTunes the new location...so if I add new music, podcasts, etc...I dont have to sync directories...iTunes will just add them to the WHS Music Folder...which is mounted on the mac as a volume. Hope that helps a bit.
ps.. Firefly is what WHS/HP use for iTunes....something which I believe can be installed on a drobo with droboshare.
UPDATE 03-06-09 - If you are a opendns user then there may be some issues in regard to pinging and browsing to your whs using the connector on pc's. There is a simple fix...add an exception at [...] for your server. Example: server.local where server is your server name and .local is your home. I did it today and my pc was able to find the server without issue. Some routers may not experience this problem...but I had it with both the apple airport extreme and the d-link. A simple fix....
UPDATE 03-10-09 - Compatible Routers:
The Good:
* D-Link DGL-4100 GamerLounge Broadband Gigabit
* D-Link DGL-4300 GamerLounge Broadband Gigabit
* D-Link DIR-655 Wireless Xtreme N Gigabit
* D-Link EBR-2310 Ethernet Broadband
* D-Link WBR-1310 Wireless-G
* Linksys WRT150N Wireless N Broadband
* Linksys WRT54G3G-ST Wireless G for Mobile Broadband
* Linksys WRT54GC Compact Wireless-G Broadband
* Netgear WPN824NA RangeMax Wireless Router
* Trendnet TEW-631BRP Wireless N Draft
The BAD:
* Linksys WRT330N Wireless-N Gigabit Gaming
* Microsoft MN-500 Broadband Networking Wireless Base
* Apple Airport Extreme Base Station
* Linksys WRT55AG Wireless 4 Port
* Qwest Actiontec m1000DSL
* US Robotics USR8001 DSL/Cable with Print Server
Quick Update 03/13/2009 - Friday the 13th:
1. The server is backing up to Amazon S3 perfectly almost every day and I have not had one issue yet.
2. A FUN Project to try is to download the ps3 media server which is freeware that can be installed on WHS to automatically stream your music, videos, pictures, etc on to your PS3...if you have one. I will post a link in the comments section.
3. Last but not least for today - If you want to remove that annoying reminder to install Mcafee.....you can check the ignore button but that item remains in the list forever.... How to remove it? There is a share from the mediasmart called SOFTWARE which houses certain files. One of the files is a rather large file....larger then 50mb if I am not wrong....I wish I could remember the name. That is the McAfee add-in installer...once it is removed from the software share and the server is restarted..u will never see it mentioned again and dont have to worry about checking off ignore.
I know this review is getting LONG...but I want anyone that owns and or is considering buying one of these units to have as much information as possible. Its not easy to drop $600 these days and end up with something you may never use. I sincerely hope my review helps you make the right decision.
Quick NOTE: 03/24/09 - Microsoft has released powerpack two for WHS. I have also configured, manually, my new dual band Apple Airport Extreme to work with WHS. You simply need to forward 3 ports to your WHS box from within the Airport Utility Software. I believe somone has posted a link in the comments section also.....
Update 03/26/09 - This was pointed out to me in the comments section as I was unaware. You are able to completely image a Windows PC and recover it via a CD that is provided by HP. The initial backup takes a while depending on how much space you are using but once its done you feel better knowing your machine can be fully recovered if the hard drive dies, etc..
Update 05/05/09 - (happy cinco de Mayo) - I just wanted to chime in and let everyone know that a new version of the WHS software is available from HP. Make sure you update your units so that they have the latest and greatest. The new features allow for automatic video conversion for any videos you drop in designated folders. Also, HP has a iPhone and iPod touch software which connects to the server to allow for music streaming and photo viewing. AWESOME features that keep making this an AWESOME addition to anyone's home network.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP EX485 MediaSmart Home Server

Automatically back up and protect your digital memories, centralize your media and content for sharing with friends and family, and enjoy your digital media while at home or away with the HP EX485 MediaSmart Home Server. Based on the Microsoft Windows Home Server platform, this sleek, quiet server is ideal if you have multiple PCs on a home network, or want the flexibility to enjoy your digital experiences from anywhere over the Internet. And it's easy to set up--just plug it in, connect it to your wireless router (sold separately), and load the software onto your PCs and Macs.
Centralize your iTunes music libraries on the MediaSmart Server for playback to any networked Mac or PC running iTunes. The HP Media Collector conveniently schedules the MediaSmart Server to copy and centralize digital files and libraries from networked PCs. The pre-installed HP Photo Publisher software enables you to easily upload photos to Facebook, Flickr, Picasa Web Albums and Snapfish. and the MediaSmart Server provides peace of mind with effortless backups of your Windows-based PCs via the Windows Home Server backup feature and Macs running Leopard using Apple Time Machine software.
The EX485 MediaSmart comes with 750 GB of storage right out of the box and four drive bays that allow you to add optional off-the-shelf SATA I or II hard drives--up to a maximum capacity of 9 TB (terabytes). Additionally, the MediaSmart includes four USB 2.0 ports and one eSATA port for connecting an attached external hard drive, and it provides capabilities for offsite backup via automatic upload to Amazon's S3 service.
The sleek, streamlined micro-tower design is perfect for use in the home office or the living room, with perforated steel exterior panels that provide cool, quiet operation. A Sleep Mode conserves energy and saves you money in more ways than one. The built-in sleep mode consumes only 1W of power, and the server can take on many of your PC's responsibilities, enabling you to turn off your individual computers to further save energy and money.
Software Features
Operating System: Powered by Windows Home Server, a new software solution from Microsoft for storing, accessing, sharing and automatically protecting digital files.
HP Control Center: The HP MediaSmart software that sits on top of the Windows Home Server software making access to tasks easier. Users with administrative access privileges can access the Windows Home Server Console from the HP Control Center.
Windows Home Server Console: Software accessed from the HP Control Center to manage your HP MediaSmart Server. Software includes setting up shared folders, assigning user access privileges and customizing backups.
File Sharing and Storage: Effortlessly centralize your files and access them from any PC and or Mac on your home network.
PC Hard Drive Disk Backup: Once the HP MediaSmart Server software is installed on a home PC, the Windows Home Server backup software automatically starts backing up the PCs hard disk drive image every night. You can customize the number and frequency of backups kept.
Mac Backup: Back up your Macs to the MediaSmart Server using Apple's Time Machine software.
Shared Folder Duplication: Designate folders that will be copied automatically onto multiple hard drives for an additional layer of redundant protection. Folder duplication replaces traditional RAID-style redundancy.
Individual File Restore: If you accidentally delete a file on your PC, you can browse versions of the PC hard drive backup image on the HP MediaSmart Server to find the file and copy it to your PC.
PC Hard Drive Disk Restore: In the event of a PC hard drive failure, the included HP PC Restore disc is all you need to restore a hard drive image from the HP MediaSmart Server. Theres no need to locate your original operating system disc.
HP Media Collector: Conveniently schedules the server to copy and centralize your Windows PC media files and libraries (including iTunes and playlists).
Remote Access: Upon installation, you can set up a personal web address to be used for remote access and by visitors. Using your personal web address, you can remotely access shared folders and files on the HP MediaSmart Server from any Internet-connected computer.
In-Home and Remote Media Streaming: Extend your digital media experiences by conveniently streaming photos, music and videos to your TVs, through gaming consoles such as Xbox 360 or PlayStation3, and computer's within your home. Remotely stream music and photos from your server to any Internet-connected computer for access while you are away.
HP Photo Publisher: Easily publish your photos to Snapfish, Facebook, Flickr, and Picasa Web Albums using an Internet-connected computer.
HP Photo Viewer: Quickly share photos and albums stored on the Server with friends and family.
Server for iTunes: Centralize your iTunes music libraries and playlists on the server for playback to any PC or Mac running iTunes on your home network.
Easy Storage Expansion: Add an internal or external hard drive to the HP MediaSmart Server, indicate that you want to add the disk in the Windows Home Server Console, and the HP MediaSmart Server storage grows. No need to power down the unit or manage drive letters for multiple hard drives.
Server Anti-Virus Protection: Server side anti-virus trial offer from McAfee for increased protection of your HP MediaSmart Server. Run quick scans of specific folders or deep scans across your entire home server.
Server Backup: Protect your digital memories from fire/flood/natural disaster... backup your server shared folders to an external hard disk drive, and/or an online backup to Amazon S3.
Server Recovery: The included Server Recovery Disc can be used to recover all data and restore folders or, to reset the server in case the server operating system disk becomes corrupt.
Additional Software Add-Ins: Extend the functionality of your server through available software add-ins to enable expanded functionality, server personalization and/or entertainment.
Users: Up to 10 user accounts can access the HP MediaSmart Server. In addition, a predefined Guest account can be enabled.

PC Operating System Support
Automatic backup of computers running Microsoft Windows Vista (32 & 64 bit), XP Home (SP2), XP Professional (SP2), Media Center Edition 2004 (SP2) or later, and Macs running ApplesTime Machine.
File sharing for computers running Microsoft Windows Vista (32 & 64 bit), XP Home (SP2) or XP Professional (SP2), Media Center Edition 2004 (SP2) or later, Mac OS X, or Linux.
Remote access to computers running Microsoft Windows XP Professional (SP2), Media Center Edition 2005 (SP2), or Vista Ultimate.

Hardware Specifications
Internal Hard Drive(s): One 750 GB drive (SATA, 7200 RPM)
Internal Expansion: Four hard drive bays (additional off the shelf SATA I or II hard drives can be added; no tools required)
External Expansion: Four USB 2.0 ports (1 front, 3 back); one eSATA port (back)
Processor: Intel Celeron 2.0 GHZ 64-bit Processor
Memory: 2 GB of DDR2 DRAM (800 MHz)
Network Support: 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) RJ45 Ethernet; supports both wired and wireless PCs (via a wireless router).
Power: Internal universal power supply
Dimensions: 5.5 x 9.8 x 9.2 inches (WxHxD)

What's in the Box HP EX485 MediaSmart Home Server, power cable, Ethernet cable (RJ45), PC restore disc, server recovery disc, software installation disc, printed documentation. The MediaSmart Server is backed by a one-year limited warranty and dedicated software technical support both online and by phone.

Click here for more information about HP EX485 MediaSmart Home Server

HP Officejet 6000 Color Inkjet Printer (CB051A#B1H) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am a very short time user of this printer, however, this is at least 16th printer I have had at since my first Centronics in 1979, and I have installed many more at work.
The printer is very well packed. The print head comes un-installed. I had a little apprehension putting in the print head. The gray bar that is raised has a stiff spring. It would not be the first time I have pulled something too hard, but there are no locks or catches. It just lifts up. The head went in smooth as did ink installation. The next step is to put power on and wait for the printer to align. This takes some time. The printer werrs, pops, grinds, sounds like it is trying to load paper, but eventually prints, JUST WAIT.
After plugging in the Ethernet cable, the network light came on, and pressing the light got me a network printout. (However, it was not necessary). From here you put the disk in the computer and follow instructions. I installed the printer on three computers, a desktop wired to network, and Asus EEEpc, wireless (copy all files to a usb and run setup from the usb), and a laptop also wireless. The desktop with Vista required me to except port 427, the Asus running XP required nothing, and the Laptop running Vista and Zone Alarm required reconfiguring Zone Alarm. The good thing is the firewall changes required were somewhat explained by the software. The Zone Alarm instructions were better than the Windows FireAlarm instructions.
I have read many of the 'professional' reviews on this printer. Now that I have it installed and have printed several test prints, some thoughts. Print speed, is well within acceptable limits. In fact I read one review that said it was too slow. I disagree with that. I also read that the 'Photo' quality was not good. Well it is certainly good enough. It does make noise, however, it is no worse that most other HP ink jets I have dealt with. It is not a factor for me, but it it were I would pick the Wireless model and stick the thing in a closet somewhere.
I would highly recommend this printer to anyone looking for no frills printing. I particularly like the cost of ink! While I have refilled carts before, at $9.99 for color carts, for 300 pages and $14.99 for 700 pages, I don't think I will mess with it. The black XL cart is suppose to print 1,200 pages that is almost 5 reams of paper!

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Officejet 6000 Color Inkjet Printer (CB051A#B1H)

If you want fast, affordable, wired Ethernet printing, plus direct photo printing, check out the HP Officejet 6000 Color Inkjet Printer. Make you printer available on a small home or office wired Ethernet network that mixes PCs and notebooks Set up fast - there's no need for additional hardware or software with the built-in Ethernet Enjoy the convenience of wireless printing when you plug the printer networking cable into a wireless router (sold separately). What's in the Box: HP Officejet 6000 Printer; Print Head Assembly; HP 920 Black Officejet Ink Cartridge (approx. 420 pages); HP 920 Cyan Officejet Ink Cartridge, HP 920 Magenta Officejet Ink Cartridge, HP 920 Magenta Officejet Ink Cartridge: composite yield (approx. 300 pages); power supply; power cord; setup poster; Firewall booklet; safety and warranty guide; CD-ROMs (for software). [Average based on ISO/IEC 24711 or HP testing methodology and continuous printing. Actual yield varies considerably based on content of printed pages and other factors. Some ink from included cartridge is used to start up the printer. For details see http://www.hp.com/go/learnaboutsupplies]

Click here for more information about HP Officejet 6000 Color Inkjet Printer (CB051A#B1H)

HP EX495 1.5 TB MediaSmart Home Server (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm technically inclined, but not an engineer. I have some experience with this topic... I first built my own server with spare parts and run it at my home. I am reviewing this because I bought it for my parents and installed it.
Preface - as of 2010, I've seen a lot of heartache about Mac Compatibility. Please, do some research before purchasing this product for a Mac to see if this will fit your needs. There is a TON of outside forum support about this. Otherwise my original review still stands:
Part 1: The software, and what HP brings to the party:
Windows Home Server is actually a program (based on Windows Server 2003 with enhancements, optimized and pre-configured), and is easy to use in a home. And it is good, all by itself. HP's contributions by adding on its own 'add-ins' make the software better.
As a sample of what this means for you, an example: If you are recording tv shows on in Windows 7 media center you can offload your shows here, and still stream them giving you instant access anytime over your home network from a windows 7 PC. The new update to the software also makes it so you can set windows 7 up to offload your recordings from your Windows 7 pc to the server automatically so you don't tie up your computer's storage space. If you want to take a look at what that kind of pc setup might look like, just search listmania for "Win 7 HTPC build"; I'm the first search hit.
So what does HP bring to this? If you have media files that you want to convert for viewing on a mobile device, HP bundled an add-in transcoding software on this so you can offload that work to server's CPU and not tie up your computer while you'd rather be surfing or playing games or whatever else you do to make things better (Note: HP's transcoding will NOT remove DRM). There are a lot more add-ins they bundle with this, but it's exhaustive and there isn't the space.
Bottom line, there are plenty of 'WHS' solutions. But my take is that HP has put a lot behind making this a great software bundle, and I have to say I'm impressed with the bonus they bring. Emphasis on the word Bonus, because they are 'nice to have-s' not designed for the people who consider them 'must-have-s'. The core functionality of streaming video, storing shares and back-up is what this is designed for. Part deux: What's so great about the hardware.
The pictures make it look big. But it is small - about the size of a small bread box turned on end. I was surprised when I unboxed it. It's also easy to add hard drives. It comes with one, but you'll get hooked and want to add one. Just take out a tray, pop in a recent generation "SATA II" drive and replace the tray in the server and it self configures. I recommend buying one straight away anyway because then you can turn on 'file duplication'. That means the server at your specific direction will keep duplicate copies of folders you select on two separate hard drives in the server as insurance against mechanical failure.
You can also back up the system drive, which I'm learning how to do, and you need an external USB drive to do that.
Energy-wise It pulls about 4 to 6 watts under normal operation. Yet another reason to buy this if you are power conscious. Don't let that figure fool you. There's plenty of hardware oomph for most people's needs.
Part Three - Documentation.
There is a lot of documentation! Just not in the box that comes with the server. WHS started out of a user community/company initiative that blossomed into a server software product that now you are seeing hardware being made for. So, if you aren't sure if this is for you - please take a look online about what other uses this is for and what alternatives are out there.
Summary:
Good build, solid software, continuous integration to Windows backed by a very committed enthusiast community that makes it so you don't have to think 'what if my hard drive crashes/computer shorts out/child vandalizes my computer?
It's automated and low/no maintenance. For a commited user: a 'no-brainer'. For someone who needs to purchase tech support from a computer vendor, I suggest that a home server is not likely a good fit for you. You are probably better off with an online backup service for your needs.
I like this one because it has extra drive bays. There are configurations that just use one hard drive, but I would pass on that.
If you are buying an add on drive, a Western Digital Caviar Black 1 TB Bulk/OEM Hard Drive 3.5 Inch, 32 MB Cache, 7200 RPM SATA II WD1001FALS should work just fine. Update - 7/9/10 WHS (the program, not the HP MediaSmart server) does random things when stuff starts failing, meaning if you ever get random restarts, can't find drives or things like that, it's not the software it's just not that robust to tell you when something is broken. On my HOMEMADE server, I had a stick of ram go bad and it gave me random errors until I figured it out. (But that's no different than any standard computer, just thought it was good to update about how its going)
Also, MSFT is working on a new version of WHS software called "Vail" that is in beta right now. It should handle errors like dying hard drives a bit more cleanly than what some folks are experiencing now...For those of you who are adventurous, I've put a listmania list together for you on how to build your own. http://www.amazon.com/lm/R1NJKRJG6H78L6/ref=cm_lm_pthnk_view?ie=UTF8&lm_bb=

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP EX495 1.5 TB MediaSmart Home Server (Black)

The HP EX495 Media Smart Server is the all-in-one solution to manage your media: a home server that can automatically backup and protect your digital memories, centralize your media and content for sharing with family and friends, and enable you to enjoy your digital media while at home or away.Network-based backup of PCs using Windows Home Server as well as Macs using Apple’s Time Machine.Media streaming of photos, music and videos to PCs, the entertainment center and remote devices including the iPhone.What's in the box: HP EX495 (1.5TB plus 3 unused expansion bays) MediaSmart Server,Power cord, Ethernet cable, Software installation disc , PC restore disc, Server recovery disc and Setup Poster and HP support guides.One year limited warranty and our dedicated software technical support available from date of purchase both online and by phone.

Click here for more information about HP EX495 1.5 TB MediaSmart Home Server (Black)

HP Wireless Printing Upgrade Kit (Q6236A) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I read several reviews, most of the bad experiences could have been made better if HP would support and document this product correctly. This device assigns an address to your printer, similar to how each computer on a network has an address.
First you install everything according to the directions. I had to unplug and replug in the USB part that connects to the computer and the one that connects to the printer until the connection was made. Once everything is set up and installed, you need to start the advanced setup options. This is how you set the printer to have access to your other computers on the network. You have to permit it to allow other users to connect. If you have WEP or WPA (which you should if you have a wireless network for security) you need to put in the password. I suggest using WPA.
Once you do that, right click on the icon in your system tray and connect. THEN you can remove the USB device from your computer. Go to start, then printers. You should see your printer there, paused (because you took out the USB device). Right click the icon, share the printer, that gives you the shared name. Unpause it.
This allows you to browse out on other computer when you `add' a new printer. You need to put in the name (mine is hpoffice which I think is the default). Anyway, once you do this you can add the printer to other computers after installing the software on them.
I hope this helps. I can confirm, you can connect several computers to your printer using this, and you do NOT have to have the USB part plugged in to any computers, once you set everything up. Setting the device up makes it a networked device that you can access from any other networked device.
I will update this review later once I have used it a while.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Wireless Printing Upgrade Kit (Q6236A)

Cut the Cord Between Your Computer and HP Printer Get everything you need to print wirelessly in this simple upgrade kit. It includes a printer receiver and PC receiver for a wired desktop or notebook PC, and it's easy to both install and use. Works with most HP printers and All-in-Ones, plus all PCs, wired or wireless.
With the HP Wireless Printing Upgrade Kit you can

Print from virtually anywhere in your home or office via the wireless 802.11g connectivity
Eliminate ugly cable clutter but still get the same print speeds as via USB
Retain full all-in-one wireless functionality: print, fax from your PC, scan, and access photo memory cards access and PC status
Set up quickly: just plug the receivers into your printer and PC; there's no configuration
Protect your signal from interception with the secure wireless connection
Use with a network, or just one PC

HP Printer Compatibility for the HP Wireless Printing Upgrade Kit

The HP Wireless Printing Upgrade Kit is compatibile with most HP printers, all PCs (wired or wireless) including the models highlighted in the following table:

Note: Microsoft Windows XP required
What's in the box 1 printer receiver, 1 PC receiver, Power cord for printer adapter, USB cable for printer adapter, Wireless Printing Upgrade kit CD, Setup guide

Click here for more information about HP Wireless Printing Upgrade Kit (Q6236A)

D-Link DPR-1260 RangeBooster G Multifunction Print Server Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Okay. It isn't perfect. Installation isn't as easy as it should be. Instructions aren't as good as they should be. Some printers work with it, and apparently some don't.
But go look at the ratings on all the other print servers. You'll see the same problems. I tried at least three others, and couldn't get any of them to work. I've been able to successfully get this print server to work with an Epson R300 (USB 1.1), a Canon MP830 all-in-one(USB 2, print only), and even a Lexmark Optra T610 laser printer(parallel, with a USB-to-parallel adapter from Belkin).
Printer manufacturers have gone nuts with bi-directional information going back and forth between the printer and the computer. The result: really pretty printer drivers that give you loads of information and options, but depend on the printer being physically connected to the computer. But when you want to easily share that printer with a bunch of other people (especially a bunch of people with laptops), it's much more difficult. Either everybody has to swap cables, or you buy a print server--and give up the pretty driver screens that pop up to tell you to buy more ink.
The D-Link DPR-1260 is the only one I could find that actually listed compatible printers on the box. They say that they tested with 100 different printers. I believe it. Their competitors don't seem to have done nearly as much testing.
If you aren't comfortable setting up a wireless router on your own, or if you needed help installing your printer the first time, don't buy this. If you can figure out what the d-link is doing by setting ports on your printers to print to an IP address, give it a try.
If the market had some better entries, I probably wouldn't rate this with 5 stars. But it appears to me to be the cream of the crop.
Update (12/2007): We've had it for about a year, and we've had trouble a number of times. It repeatedly loses settings. If I could reduce the number of stars, I'd give it two or three.

Click Here to see more reviews about: D-Link DPR-1260 RangeBooster G Multifunction Print Server

Wireless Print Server, 802.11g 4-USB 2.0 Ports, 108Mbps

Get 27% OFF

Click here for more information about D-Link DPR-1260 RangeBooster G Multifunction Print Server

Recent Posts