Netgear Stora -Suggestions to improve

[MRConsulting]

Ouch there is some pretty stinging criticism / rants on the Netgear Stora (mainly about features that are wanted or missing). I brought a Stora last week for home back up and sharing photos and music and my experience has been fairly positive. I set it up and transferred 50 GB in a couple of hours and so far has been working fine.

Lets have a simple tread with suggestions / features that will improve Netgear Stora (no rants just features). Below are some of the suggestions that I have pulled from the other threads.

More USB Ports (front and back)

Increase RAM from 256MB to 1 GB

Users can rename and add libraries

Video share - support a few more formats like .AVI

Hot Swapable HD (FAQ says hotswapable but also say dont do this)

Include Sleep mode - “Disk Spin Down When Idle” feature
This will apparently be included in the next software update

Expand Linux/UNIX clients support

Synchronization mode for Desktop Mirror & Mirror backup & Include Desktop Mirror over the internet
(Not sure what the new feature request is here - Expand?)

[Nexans]

And additional modes: JBOD or RAID 0...

[vega_ska]

Netgear, you are starting to loose customers... please listen to us... we need/want JBOD or RAID0 and maybe bittorrent, and please give us more control over the device, we really need it :S

All the problems would go away if you just update the software... ! the hardware is fine (for me) but the software is killing the device...

[Nexans]

Exactly, the problem is software, but since the software is up to Axentra (HipServ)...

[dengar]

Hi gang. This Drew Meyer, the Dir of Marketing for NETGEAR's storage group. Thanks for the constructive feedback and I have a few comments.

First of all, for the power user geeks out there, let me remind you that this is a consumer-targeted mega-simple device built for your mom and dad. If you want RAID options, a command-line interface, 3rd party add-ons, support for things like SqueezeCenter and ReadyNAS Vault, you should consider a ReadyNAS Duo.

Secondly, we love the comments and rest assured that will incorporate new features in the next software release. I won't give details on what is included (hate to unintentionally disappoint anyone) but this forum and probably this thread is the right place to comment.

Third, take a look at the recent TrustedReviews evaluation. They gave the product a "Recommended" rating and fully appreciated the targeted design audience.

Thanks for listening!

[Nexans]

So, can we expect improvements in our Storas?

[vega_ska]

consumers want options... they want the option of choosing more storage vs redundancy (doesnt have to be a ultra uber geek to want that), and yes they want to download stuff too (every newbie and uber geek wants that), maybe not install any 3rd party addons but at least have a bittorrent client included, so they can just copy/paste the url and download stuff... simple and easy... the stora has a lot of potential, but the software has lots to be desired... please include more features, the software is the part that can make or brake ur device...

And another thing... i dont see whats the problem with having a device thats easy to use for mom and dad, and at the same time it has the stuff needed for uber geeks (it would be great if it had the best of both worlds) if you can implement all of that... you WILL LEAVE the competition in the dust !!!

PS: Good thing you took the time to post things here, thank you

[dengar]

Yes, minor updates (containing patches and bug fixes) will be made available to your Stora for download automatically. And with Premium Services you'll be entitled to major releases as they become available in the future.

What major new features would you want to see? I don't mean enhancements on things that are aready in here, but something new and exciting - like SqueezeCenter support, or Kodak Gallery integration, or better integration with a NETGEAR EVA product, or Android/BlackBerry/iPhone apps, or an HDMI port for connection to a TV.

BTW, those are just ideas and not hints or promises. Not trying to set any false expectations.

[dstiles1]

Originally Posted by dengar

Hi gang. This Drew Meyer, the Dir of Marketing for NETGEAR's storage group. Thanks for the constructive feedback and I have a few comments.

First of all, for the power user geeks out there, let me remind you that this is a consumer-targeted mega-simple device built for your mom and dad. If you want RAID options, a command-line interface, 3rd party add-ons, support for things like SqueezeCenter and ReadyNAS Vault, you should consider a ReadyNAS Duo.

Secondly, we love the comments and rest assured that will incorporate new features in the next software release. I won't give details on what is included (hate to unintentionally disappoint anyone) but this forum and probably this thread is the right place to comment.

Third, take a look at the recent TrustedReviews evaluation. They gave the product a "Recommended" rating and fully appreciated the targeted design audience.

Thanks for listening!

Drew,

No offense here, and I'm a ranter, but I don't think asking that the features advertised on the box and in literature be INCLUDED in the product in the box. And I don't think its uber-geek-ish to expect them to work. Seems to me that was a marketing mistake.

That being said, its good to know Netgear reads these posts. All too often it seems like the criticisms go unnoticed or ignored. I look forward to seeing what additional updates your company has in store, and I certainly hope functions advertised that were left out (Sleep function for example) aren't given to only Premium subscribers. It feels to me like you owe us those.

Good luck, and congrats on a nice review.

D

[And]

Originally Posted by dengar

Hi gang. This Drew Meyer, the Dir of Marketing for NETGEAR's storage group. Thanks for the constructive feedback and I have a few comments.

First of all, for the power user geeks out there, let me remind you that this is a consumer-targeted mega-simple device built for your mom and dad. If you want RAID options, a command-line interface, 3rd party add-ons, support for things like SqueezeCenter and ReadyNAS Vault, you should consider a ReadyNAS Duo.

Secondly, we love the comments and rest assured that will incorporate new features in the next software release. I won't give details on what is included (hate to unintentionally disappoint anyone) but this forum and probably this thread is the right place to comment.

Third, take a look at the recent TrustedReviews evaluation. They gave the product a "Recommended" rating and fully appreciated the targeted design audience.

Thanks for listening!

I'm disapointed that there its missing some pretty basic access control like giving a user only read access or controling if the Stora is accessible via the inernet or only on the LAN.