Dane-Elec So-Smart

[philg]

For some time I have been trying to work out the best way of hosting my wifes digital photo collection and giving us the ability to view them on our TV

The best idea I cam up with was a wireless media streamer (for viewing) and a network storage device (for storage).

Snag is, you're looking at �150-�200 EACH, which makes the project a tad expensive

Then I stumbled across the Dane-Elec "So-Smart" (http://www.danedigital.com/4-Disques-Durs-exte rnes/7-so-smart.html)

This is a combined media streamer and NAS device that seems to do everything I need, and best of all, is a little over �150 with a 500Gb drive installed.

In fact, it almost seems too good to be true, so I am wondering if they've cut any corners (certainly they seem to have "economised" on the person who created the user manual!)

Has anyone else come across one of these and would like to comment?

Many thanks

Phil G

[Oneeyedvic]

how big is the photo collection? Seems like you are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

[philg]

Currently it's around 70Gb and now growing at 10gb-20gb a year :(

[philg]

PS and she is a compuer-phobe so the idea of viewing the pics on the TV is MUCH more attractive than on a pc....

[Gromit]

philg

Storing your photos, and showing your photos are completely different things. To store them, they will be in a hi-resolution format and each individual photo will be 3 or 4Mb each.
Your TV cannot display this quality of image. So you can use a smaller file for screen viewing.

The simplest way of doing this is to sync your photos to an iPod and then run it in slideshow mode connected to a TV.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum =304679

[philg]

Gromit

Thanks for the suggestion, BUT

We want to try and make things as simple as possible so viewing from the storage location fits that bill (I think)

Also, unless we get a BIG iPod, then we won't be able to store all the pics there and will need to decide "which trip do we want to look at today" and go off and sync the iPod

Viewing direct from NAS, even though we don't get the full benefit of the resoltuion, is much simpler - just call up the relevant folder and GO.

Phil G

[Oneeyedvic]

Dane Elec are a company that have recently release the ZPen which is quite revolutionary and has had pretty decent reports.

Personally, unless you have to buy a bigger hard drive, why not just buy a media streamer. I have a Pinnacle Showcenter (purcahsed around 5 years ago) which allows me to view all my video / pictures / audio on my tv.

I use it a lot.

I bought this when they first came out - there are now loads of different types and manufacturers.

I would highly recommend this solution

[philg]

Oneeyedvic

Thanks, but a streamer-only solution only works if I have the pc switched on at the same time. This is not always going to be the case which is why I need NAS as well

Indeed, when I am travlling on business WITH the pc, I don't want Nikki to lose access to her picture collection

Phil G

[Oneeyedvic]

In which case, what you have found looks good. I know Freecom do them as well: the 350 and 450.

(google and you will get some results accordingly).

Can't say how good they are, but do like the idea of them.

[philg]

Now I have another choice :(

Not what I really wanted

but thanks

[Gromit]

Maybe you should be working in the Cloud rather than a physical storage device.

http://www.apple.com/uk/mobileme/features/gall ery.html

[philg]

With the amount of images Nikki has - I doubt it :)