HP MediaSmart LX195 boasts 640GB HDD, 1.6GHz Atom, $400 MSRP

Yearning for more info on the HP MediaSmart LX195? Here's some new concrete details for you to go along with the leaked images from earlier this month. As previously suggested, it's got a single 640GB internal SATA drive with 7200RPM, with the only option for expansion being via the four USB 2.0 ports in the back. We're also looking at a 1.6GHz Atom 230 processor, 1GB RAM, Windows Home Server software and support for Apple's Time Machine. Mum's the word on price, but if you're looking to start saving early, suggested retail price is just under four Benjamins.

[ATimson Posted Apr 29th 2009 10:27PM]

The better specs and expandability make the extra $100 (retail, $200 MSRP) for the EX485 a no-brainer.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 11:18PM]

or even the new acer h340. The deal is gone now but they had the h340 on sale last week for $399 and even included an extra TV hard drive (for a total of 2.0 TB).

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 30th 2009 4:41AM]

I must strongly recommend against purchasing this product. I work at the National Zoo in D.C. and we bought this as a server to run our webcams of the monkey exhibit. We placed it in the exhibit due to the length of the cords already in place, we were worried that the monkeys might destroy it, but that would have been much better than what happened. When one of the monkeys discovered it he laid his monkey paw upon it and suddenly was aware that the bone in his hand could be used as a tool. After attacking a nearby tribe he threw his bone into the air where it escaped the atmosphere and turned into a space shuttle.

Long story short, I now find myself posting this review as a fetus enveloped in an orb of glowing light floating through space.

Also it has no top or front USB ports.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 30th 2009 12:16PM]

I'm sorry, i just built a HTPC for around $500 with more functionality. Why would anyone actually pay this much for a media server, when a low end PC could be built for less. The only reason why my HTPC cost more was because I wanted some additional features that drove the price up (4GB RAM, 2X1TB HDD)

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 30th 2009 4:00PM]

Well you said "built" which this product is not meant for the techy people, its meant for the plug in and forget crowd who want a simple to configure pc with a small form factor. I can build pcs as well but just went with the other HP media smart server for 450 dollars because I can easily add more drives without opening the case and its barely 10 inches tall.

[(Unverified) Posted May 1st 2009 10:24AM]

"option for expansion being via the four USB 2.0 ports in the back"

That's a deal breaker for me. What's the point of a home server with only 1 internal drive?