| Smartstor NS4600 Raid 5 Nas/media Server |  | Brand: Promise
Category: CE
List Price: $499.00
Buy New: $407.97
as of 7/29/2010 09:59 MDT details
You Save: $91.03 (18%)
New (13) Used (4) from $313.99
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 4,235
Format: CD
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista
Shipping Weight (lbs): 7.7
Dimensions (in): 12.5 x 11.3 x 8.3
Warranty: 2 years warranty
MPN: NS4600
Model: NS4600
UPC: 102646092101
EAN: 0704118045914
ASIN: B002BLK5ME
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
Promise SmartStor NS4600 Network Storage Server Intel 600 MHz ( -RJ-45 Network, Type A USB, eSATA
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
 Look Elsewhere April 8, 2010
s.a. (Los Angeles, CA USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
After researching multiple DLNA NASs and reading reviews from Gizmodo, Cnet and others, I was thrilled to purchase the NS4600. Streaming iTunes, Time Machine support, RAID 5 and DLNA support to stream to my PS3. Sounds great.
Unfortunately the NS4600 has been a complete disappointment, and to make matters worse, Promise Support support is essentially non-existent. As the firmware for my device has been "upgraded," many functions have ceased working properly, most notably the DLNA server.
Now when I go to watch a video, all my files are sorted in a completely random fashion, making it near impossible to find what I am looking for. TV episodes, for instance, that are all named with the episode number to start (eg 01, 02, 03...) are in complete disarray (eg 04, 11, 02, 18). Additionally, besides not listing in alphabetical order (or any discernible order, for that matter), some of my video files are listed by titles found in AVI tags. The software does not offer any way to change the tags that it uses for listing, and yet it insists on using them. What if a tag in a video is wrong? Who would want files listed solely by criteria cannot be changed?
Meanwhile, the built-in way to browse files is beyond stupid. The two options are either Format or Resolution, both of which are completely undesirable. People do not want to search through videos on a media server by resolution or media type. In fact, most people in my household don't even understand resolution or media types, let alone care. Why would anyone sitting in front of a media player (in this case, a TV) care to browse through AVIs versus MPEGs? I just want to watch Futurama, for crying out loud.
To solve this I have tried contacting Promise over 5 times, only to get flippant answers that don't actually address any of the problems. Only one person ever had an actual suggestion for a solution, but of course it didn't work. As it is, I'm stuck with this piece of junk and will never deal with Promise again.
The only positive thing about this experience is that I am an IT director for a school and have been considering Promise RAIDs for an XSan. Lesson learned and we're looking at other vendors. Funny how a poor support of a $400 NAS can cost a company over $100,000 down the road.
Take my advice and look elsewhere!
Don't do it! March 31, 2010
P. Schabinger (San Francisco, CA United States)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I've struggled with this device for almost 6 months; hoping that software updates would fix the problems. Here is a list of the issues I've had to date with the Promise NS4600:
-It freezes for no apparent reason. I can ping it but that's it. The web configuration page doesn't respond, none of the protocols respond and the power button does nothing. In fact, the power button, which is on the back of the unit, seems to do nothing what-so-ever. The only way to get access to my files at this point is to unplug it. When it comes back up it usually loses a drive and rebuilds the raid array.
-Read-only files/lack of permissions. Occasionally, files or entire directories will be inaccessible. Usually, a reboot will fix this but I have 2 files I've never been able to access.
-Protocol won't start. Each sharing protocol has its own plug-in. At the moment, the Microsoft protocol won't start no matter what. Then I can't access my files directly. It's terribly frustrating. I haven't found a fix this time.
These problems are in additiona to those already mentioned in the other reviews. I can not recommend this product.
nice looking junk March 5, 2010
Gary Odom
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Running Windows XP Pro SP3. Cannot create an array over 2 TB. There's a checkbox in the software for that, but the checkbox cannot be checked. The software can see each of the drives, and their size (1.5 TB each). So why can't it figure out how to make an array? Only one answer possible: stupid programmers.
This product is a beautiful disgrace. Don't buy it.
DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT February 23, 2010
John Atchison
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
I'm not kidding. First it wiped out all my data. I called Promise support and they said "Oh you only have two drives" you need at least 3 to protect your data. So stupidly I believed them and added a third drive. TEN DAYS to migrate to raid 5, but whatever, I was protected. NOPE. Lost all my data again. Get this, when I called them they said I should have had my data backed up, 6TB of data, where do you back that up?? Isn't that the point of a RAID? Here is what they said, I could have backed up to another RAID. I assume they meant to a different manufacturers product as theirs is a piece of CRAP. Unless you are looking for a product to help you get ridden of sensitive irreplaceable data DO USE THIS PRODUCT. All that said, it is made of cheap plastic with a cheap laptop power supply underneath. I'm kid you not, you turn if over and it is kind of in an opening in the bottom. You were warned if you buy this piece of JUNK and lose your data.
On a positive note Amazon stepped up with NO problems and accepted a return on the product. I hope their warehouse doesn't fill up with piles of these pieces of junk after Promise goes out of business from the class action suits.
This product needs serious improvement for OSX January 11, 2010
A. Anderson (NJ USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
1.11.10 - I'm a professional videographer, and I haven't been able to back up any of my projects yet. After several hours of data transfer the NS4600 drops off the network. My PS3 can't find the DLNA server. I'm about to call support and will hopefully change this review.
1.11.10 - Just got off the phone with Support, very helpful, so far seeing improvement. I'll try a 500GB transfer tonight.
1.20.10 - I've got media backed up, so my main use of this is working, however Time Machine -Fail. DLNA w/ my PS3 - Fail. Support told me a firmware update is on the way.
2.28.10 - There seems to be a new SmartNavi software release for Windows, not yet for OSX. I'm still waiting to use some features. I Should have sent it back.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
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