CONNECTING AND USING THE SQA EX
Connecting the Ex to the Superstor was just a matter of plugging in the eSata cable in both boxes. There is no power switch on the Ex so as soon as you turn on the plug at the wall the Ex powers into life. Adding a drive to the Ex was simple, as usual with the Tranquil servers, and Windows Home Server soon found the drive and allowed me to add it.
FINAL THOUGHTS AND CONCLUSIONS
I am a big fan of the Tranquil PC Windows Home Servers. They are built well, come with some great add-ins like the AVA Media software, and have the cool USB Recovery method (if you are not sure what that is, take a look at some of the previous reviews I have done on the Tranquil servers).
A question that I often get asked when I review servers is how noisy they are. Well, Tranquil have done everything they can to keep the noise down by providing a green drive, but obviously the more drives you put in, the more noise there will be. And if you had all the drive bays full in the Superstor plus 3 full Ex’s then you would be talking about 20 hard drives, and that is not going to be quiet. But one thing people often forget is that Microsoft designed the Windows Home Servers to be out of site devices. Basically that meant putting it under the stairs, or somewhere out of the way, rather than sitting in your living room on on your desk in your office.
If you can put this out of the way then you won’t notice the noise. If you have it on the desk next to you then obviously you will hear it. It’s not that its really noisy, but its not silent either.
One day we might see a completely silent Windows Home Server, full of silent drives. You can put me down for one, or three!
Personally I find it really great to see a UK based company continuing to develop products for Windows Home Server. Over the last few years companies have released one box, and have then gone very quiet. With the exception of HP, Tranquil is the only company to continue to push the boundaries of WHS and I am looking forward to seeing that they do next.
Available to order now, shipping from 12th April 2010.
Special Introductory Offer save £40.00 – so that £559 excluding VAT for the Superstor. The Ex Storage extension devices, if purchased at the same time are £224.10 for 1 (that’s a saving of 10%), £423.30 for 2 (a saving of 15%) or £597.60 for 3 (a saving of 20%).
Given the price for the Superstor and 3 Ex’s, this isn’t going to be everyone’s choice for a Windows Home Server solution (but then you could just buy the Superstor or even a SQA-5H if you didn’t need the full expansion capability). However, if you are looking for a very good Windows Home Server, with a massive storage capability and the software you need preinstalled, and with a decent warranty, then you should really take a look at the Superstor.
So my next job is to dig out my external DVD reader, connect it up and start ripping my collection. I’m glad we have a long holiday weekend coming up! I’ll let you know how I get on with a longer term report in a few weeks time.
You can learn more and order from here: http://www.tranquilpc-shop.co.uk/acatalog/SQA-SuperStor.html
So it toasts 10 bagels at once?
now that would be a cool add-on – along with the USB fridge, I would never have to leave my office!
Wow, Nice stuff. I agree with you on Tranquil, they are continually updating their product.
You know what I want to see mate, say it with me. The inside.
I'll be surprised to see Tranquil try and add the 3 esata's to the RS5 box. Loaded with 5 2TB this thing is a brick.
Since your going to have the option of the 3 esata's, I'll recomment getting the SAFE module. I would not want to see this giant go down with almost 40TB of storage.
I look forward to see how ripping goes. I noticed that the AVA media software is just CD ripping while the RS5 model since it has the DVD drive includes the DVD ripping software which is a repackaged version of MyMovies comes bundled in.
If you can install that version on this box or the MyMovies addin, I'd like to hear from you if this thing chokes when ripping DVD's
Thanks again,
John.
Here you go,
http://www.everythingusb.com/mini_usb_fridge_1262…
http://www.geekalerts.com/usb-microwave-oven/
🙂 now if I could just get someone to keep bringing me supplies…..
Don't stay to happy. Bought one of these a month ago and it's a brick! Daily blue screens and no technical support!