Ximeta 80GB Net Drive for $100 AR at Fry's & Outpost

[TechDreamer]

Fry's ad in L.A. Times and Outpost have this drive for the same price. This external drive has USB 2.0 and 100 Ethernet. Ximeta just released a new driver that allows all clients to read and write data to the drive. I think the drive can be upgraded up to 250GB. The L.A. Fry's ad also has the retail Maxtor 250GB drive for $160.

 

[forkd]

this seems cool. I've never had any dealings with these. I assume it can be connected to a router and serve as NAS?????

 

[forkd]

<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://
http://www.atruereview.com/netdisk/index.php">review to remove $ from my wallet</a>

I'm gonna lose more money...I feel it coming

 

[TechDreamer]

Yes this can be attached to a router, but I think all the clients have to be windows machines.

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: forkd
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://
[L=http://www.atruereview.com/netdisk/index.php">review to remove $ from my wallet</a>]http://www.atruereview.com/netdisk/index.php[/L][/L]

I'm gonna lose more money...I feel it coming

Corrected link.

 

[Braxus]

Note that this unit isn't considered a true NAS device. They call it NDAS or something like that. Requires you to install a driver for ethernet based support and then it mounts as a actual drive on your system. Ok if you need something cheap but not too hot if you're looking for a true NAS solution.

 

[Sleeping]

Thanks OP.

 

[batmanuel]

Ars Technica review of the Netdisk NDU-160, if anyone is interested.

 

[e-Spider]

I bought one of these and the connections were not that consistent and when I did get a connection I would txfer a large file and then the device lost its connection. It didn't seem that reliable so I returned it. That was a little while ago, so maybe the new drivers are better.

 

[iwearnosox]

Well I bought one. I can't seem to find a guide out there to popping in a new drive, anyone have a link?

 

[iwearnosox]

Ok, I got it apart. What a pain in the ass, this thing is clearly not intended to be pulled apart.

I'll make a guide if anyone is interested..

 

[chemwiz]

I'd be interested, Sifl. TIA!

 

[weepul]

looks like a really nice drive for $100. the review sorta bashed on the network speed, but 8MB/s is what most 100mbps networks can sustain in transferring. 7,995 KB/s is really good already.

//krunk (^_^x)

 

[Paul]

Hey Sifl, I would appreciate a guide. Been using my NetDisk for quite sometime now and would like to increase it's storage space.

 

[TechDreamer]

Here are some old posts on this drive.

Here
Here

 

[forkd]

Originally posted by: ActuaryTm

Originally posted by: forkd
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://
[L=http://www.atruereview.com/netdisk/index.php">review to remove $ from my wallet</a>]http://www.atruereview.com/netdisk/index.php[/L][/L]

I'm gonna lose more money...I feel it coming

Corrected link.

thanks

 

[valkyrie]

I just want to add in that wireless performance with a Netdisk is HIGHLY dependent upon your configuration. I have been through two routers, and still have lackluster performace. It works well as wired or USB, but with a wireless computer accessing your network, be prepared for some dramatic slowdowns. (i.e. Closer to 2.5MB/s random read - this is according to Ximeta's tests). My actual experience is that it's been even slower (~40s to transfer a 10mb file).

 

[iwearnosox]

I'll try to post a guide tonight. I'm just getting over really bad food poisoning so I'm running in "slow" mode.

 

[TechDreamer]

I found some info on opening the drive case. This came from an old post on fatwallet.

Just upgraded my Ximeta 80gb model to 200gb. Here's the procedure. Hold the end with the interfaces (USB, ethernet) toward you, so the holes on the side are close to you. Insert a paper clip straight into the hole on the side, bowing the plastic catch on the inside (you can't see it yet) inward, while simulataneously pushing the top of the plastic case away from you with your thumb. Use the little rubber legs on the bottom of the case as leverage, grasping them with your hand while you push away with your thumb. The case will slide back from you slightly. Repeat procedure on other side with other hole. When both sides are free, the case will slide back about an inch, the lift off.

 

[hytek369]

sounds interesting. not compelling enough for my taste

 

[Paul]

I took apart my NetDisk but have some questions...

To upgrade do I just pop in another HD?
Are there any special software that needs to be on the HD?
Also, I'm concerned about heat. As it is, the 80GB gets quite hot.
Would a 200GB+ and 7200RPM HD survive in this casing?

Things like the NetDisk ID and Write Key are embedded on the NetDisk controller board and not the HD right?

 

[stultus]

Do any of these cheapos support PC, mac, and linux environments?

 

[iwearnosox]

Originally posted by: Paul
I took apart my NetDisk but have some questions...

To upgrade do I just pop in another HD?
Are there any special software that needs to be on the HD?
Also, I'm concerned about heat. As it is, the 80GB gets quite hot.
Would a 200GB+ and 7200RPM HD survive in this casing?

Things like the NetDisk ID and Write Key are embedded on the NetDisk controller board and not the HD right?

Just pop in another drive, then connect via USB to format. No software is needed. Leave the aluminum cover off for better cooling- sure it's ugly, but it cools so much better.

 

[iwearnosox]

Originally posted by: TechDreamer
I found some info on opening the drive case. This came from an old post on fatwallet.

Just upgraded my Ximeta 80gb model to 200gb. Here's the procedure. Hold the end with the interfaces (USB, ethernet) toward you, so the holes on the side are close to you. Insert a paper clip straight into the hole on the side, bowing the plastic catch on the inside (you can't see it yet) inward, while simulataneously pushing the top of the plastic case away from you with your thumb. Use the little rubber legs on the bottom of the case as leverage, grasping them with your hand while you push away with your thumb. The case will slide back from you slightly. Repeat procedure on other side with other hole. When both sides are free, the case will slide back about an inch, the lift off.

Get some bamboo kabob sticks, about a buck at walmart. Works perfectly.

One more pic.

The external aluminum shell is a piece of crap, as I indicated earlier you're probably better leaving it off unless you need the protection for something.