We are huge fans of making sure you have a good backup of your data and we have been looking for a good solution that will be easy to setup, reliable, and simple to manage. What we found was the HP MediaSmart EX495. The EX495 is not just a network share device, it also features software for Windows and Macs to automate backups. But wait, there’s more! It’s also a complete media server system as well. Before I get into the technical details of this cool little device, I want to announce that HP is giving one to a lucky Camera Dojo reader!! Read on for details on this fun contest but first, more about what the HP MediaSmart Server can do for you.The HP 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.

• Powered by Microsoft® Windows® Home Server software
• The  EX495 with an Intel® Pentium® Processor Dual Core 2.5 GHZ 64-bit
• Capacities: 1.5TB single drive. 3 empty hard disk drive bays for internal expandability.
• Expandable up to 17TB
• Network-based backup of PCs using Windows® Home Server as well as Macs using Apple’s Time Machine®
• Photo and video sharing with family and friends
• Remote access to digital media, files and PCs from any Internet connected PC or Mac®
• Media streaming of photos, music and videos to PCs, the entertainment center and remote devices including the iPhone®
• The HP Video Converter converts your video library on the server (including unprotected DVD’s) into a MPEG-4 (H.264) video format.(f) Plus, you control how your videos are converted by selecting the device your video will be played on or specify the video settings yourself.
• HP Media Collector automatically collects, organizes and centralizes your media files from multiple Windows PCs and Macs (including iPhoto®, iTunes®, and iMovie® libraries) to the server so you can easily find, share and stream your media.

What’s that all mean?

Technical mumbo-jumbo aside, the MediaSmart EX495 provides you with a network share for having a complete, secure file server on your network, gives you automated backups to both Windows and Macintosh client systems, and can convert video files into different formats and stream them to PC’s, Media Extenders, and even iPhone/iPod Touches.

The base unit comes with 1.5tb of storage and has 3 additional bays for additional drives as well as being able to use external USB or eSata storage devices.

What the EX495 is not, is it is not a RAID system like a Drobo is, instead it has a unique system that allows you to choose which folders you want duplicated across multiple drives within the system for redundancy. For example, you may want your pictures saved to two drives, but your converted videos you may not care about having a backup of. This helps optimize disk space within the system.

HP provided me with one of the units to solve the storage needs of Camera Dojo and I am so impressed with it that HP and Camera Dojo are going to give one away.

The Contest Details

This is supposed to be more about having fun than being super technical and instead of being a photography contest, this one is going to be about image manipulation. The winner will be chosen on originality and concept and not about being super technically proficient with Photoshop. The winner will receive an HP MediaSmart EX490 with 1tb of storage and Intel Celeron Processor.

What you need to do is take the Camera Dojo logo, manipulate it any way you want, put it anywhere, on body parts, 18 wheelers, etc. The idea is to have fun with this idea. To enter this contest, send your image (800 pixels wide on the long side) to contest@cameradojo.com with the subject MediaSmart Contest.

The contest will end on December 20th. Throughout the contest, the top entries will be posted to CameraDojo.com. To download a hi resolution version of the Camera Dojo logo, click here (right-click and select save as).

For more information about the HP MediaSmart Servers, check out their website at:
http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/mediasmart-server/

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