Just got an email from MSY advertising the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 3.5" 3TB Home Network Storage System (STAM3000301 ) for $170. Cheapest on static ice shows $200 before shipping.
Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 3.5" 3TB Home Network Storage System- $170 Reduced from $255
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lol
They've fixed up the price - now says $170
Lots of mixed reviews on Amazon, anyone have one?
http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-FreeAgent-GoFlex-External-STAM…
I'd just get a proper SOHO NAS. It'd cost more than the sale price of this unit (probably about the same as the RRP), but pay dividends in functionality and reliability.
Edit: I should also add that having network storage is great and well worth the price of admission.
Obviously you get what you pay for. I think it's a ST3000DM001 (if not DL) in a NAS enclosure. So you are effectively paying $32 for a single disk Gigabit NAS apart from the $138 for the 3TB HDD. I'm gonna get one as I presently have that crappy '2TB USB connected to the router' setup.
Hope that the enclosure can take a 4TB next year and will be good for another year or so before the 'proper NAS' prices come down. also eyeing the HP microserver N54L to come down since the Gen8 microserver has already been introduced. So this drive will suit just fine to defer my 'self-promised' upgrade for a couple of more years.
Forgive my ignorance but what is wrong with your 'crappy 2TB USB connected to the router'? Is it simply bigger and better or is it somehow actually a better bargain. I am asking because I have a router with that capability that I have not tried/used.
Most routers have USB2.0 ports for external drives offer a typical throughput of 5-7 MB/s (sustained). The same HDD connected via USB3.0 to the PC just feels like internal SATA [almost ~100-115MB/s].
Hope the wired network connection directly to the router will remove the bottleneck and will be superior than my current setup. Even if it's not anywhere near regular NAS experience, (which other people are describing in this thread) should be worthwhile for $32 investment in the enclosure.
As someone who has done the 3-stage upgrade I can say that each step is worth every cent and produces a noticeable increase in performance [No networked HDD -> HDD connected to router -> Network HDD (like the Seagate) -> Proper NAS]. The only reason I advised on skipping the middle step is because of how good a proper NAS is, but as quasims points out for $32 it's a very worthwhile upgrade.
This device will definitely overcome the bottleneck issues that come with a HDD+router setup such as slow data transfer, stuttering video streaming and time-out issues. But doesn't have raid, a lot of internal memory, etc that come with proper NAS.
But for $32, better than HDD plugged into a router by a country mile.
Gotcha, thanks to you both for responding.
Looks like the HDD inside is not ST3000DM001 but the discontinued 3TB model ST33000651AS, but from $/MB point of view the deal may be okay for some.
I bought this one 2 years ago..and it is really damn slow. Not recommended
Do you know about the Amazon reviews (including suggestions/instructions) indicating that was the case until network configuration was altered/fixed? Might not match your usage/case but it appears speed could/should be much better/improved.
slow compare to what?
did you use web interface to access your file or FTP client (recommended)?i got one 2 years ago too.
it is still faster than USB3 and i'm happy.What's the sustained MB/s you are getting?
Bought one tiday.
Write speeds to the drive are around 2.4mb/s, which is what most complaining people on the forums are getting. And yes it is slow with a few hundred songs and 10-15gb of videos, the laptop will be running overnight loading them on.However!
Read speeds from the drive are perfect. I can stream 720p videos from my smart TV with ease.So yes it is slow, but only for write. So only a problem really for the initial dump of data on the drive. Overall pretty good for the price.
Ummm. He you got it connected to the land port of the router? Looks like it's read/write is no better than the GoFlex Desk read/write speeds which I currently have. Appears for operating it to SATA-like speeds an active CPU-driven proper NAS is required.
Yes it connects to router via Ethernet cable. I think its just the CPU isn't that great for write speeds.
But I have loaded everything on now, so time to watch some videos tonight :-)
Are you using Gb or 100Mb router, some of the Amazon comments highlighted this as part of the issue?
Netgear dgn2000. Whatever that is.
If it is of help, Anandtech review for the 2TB model is here:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3955/seagate-go-flex-home-2tb-…
Looks like the LAN Dock (the bottom part of the GoFlex Home) is a 1-disk 'very basic' NAS. There's even a picture on Anandtech that shows some sort of processor-like chip and a nanya DRAM (presumably cache) module on-board the dock's mobo. This is the thing which is costing $32 (in addition to a $138 3TB disk) in this deal. So the question is if $32 is okay for this or should go to the next step i.e. $99 two-disk NAS (which is of course the worst of the 2-bay ones) but still heaps better than this $32 interim solution.
Seagate's contractor for the application layer software probably did overkill device's capabilities. Install Linux/Samba (e.g., ArchLinuxARM) and your transfers can be as high as 30-50MB/s with this device. All in all, it's a decent little plug computer for $30 bucks (after discounting the HDD price).
Although the installation process would void Seagate warranty straight away and consume some good amount of time if you are not familiar with Linux (and are learning it as you go).
For a while I thought ur ID is the model of this product.