Comments on: Acer Aspire AH340-UA230N Home Server http://www.masahirointernational.com/5-acer-aspire-ah340-ua230n-home-server.html Sat, 29 May 2010 23:02:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: P. ISAAC http://www.masahirointernational.com/5-acer-aspire-ah340-ua230n-home-server.html#comment-6 P. ISAAC Sat, 29 May 2010 23:02:46 +0000 http://masahirointernational.com/5-acer-aspire-ah340-ua230n-home-server.html#comment-6 EXCELLENT PRODUCT. EASY SETUP. DOES EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS IT WILL DO. <br />I WOULD DEFINATELY RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT. Rating: 5 / 5 EXCELLENT PRODUCT. EASY SETUP. DOES EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS IT WILL DO.

I WOULD DEFINATELY RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: John H. Earl http://www.masahirointernational.com/5-acer-aspire-ah340-ua230n-home-server.html#comment-5 John H. Earl Sat, 29 May 2010 20:06:41 +0000 http://masahirointernational.com/5-acer-aspire-ah340-ua230n-home-server.html#comment-5 I REALLY wanted to be able to use this server. But, in the end, I never could get it configured to run properly. I suspect part of the problem is that I'm on satellite for my internet and according to their TOS, they don't allow any kind of server in the home. I suspect they are blocking ports that the server needs. I could never get the server to connect to the internet (so no Windows Updates). I even bought a new router that was recommended as one that works with WHS but no joy. I spent 2-1/2 frustrating days trying to get it to work and finally gave up. I could have lived with it as a nice automated backup system (remote access would have been very nice but not critical) but even automated backups failed. I got one manual backup to work, but automation is key for me. Hours cruising the internet for possible solutions didn't help solve my problems. As well, only my desktop was ever able to install the connector software. Neither of two laptops (one running XP Home, one Win 7 Home Premium) could install the connector software whether they were connecting wirelessly or through an ethernet cable. <br /> <br />I don't really think Acer is at fault here. I think it's WHS. I'm not a total novice when it comes to computers and have a lot of experience working with desktops. Less with networks though. All in all, this was just way too much trouble and heartache for something that should be fairly simple (at least for just doing automated backups). I scoured the "WHS for Dummies" book and that author had tons of problems himself getting things set up. He's very experienced. If he has problems, there's no real hope for someone like me. Throughout the book, he remarks that if you can get it to all work, you are very lucky indeed. I'm afraid I wasn't. <br /> <br />I'm returning the server to Amazon for a refund and have no plans to try any other WHS. Rating: 1 / 5 I REALLY wanted to be able to use this server. But, in the end, I never could get it configured to run properly. I suspect part of the problem is that I’m on satellite for my internet and according to their TOS, they don’t allow any kind of server in the home. I suspect they are blocking ports that the server needs. I could never get the server to connect to the internet (so no Windows Updates). I even bought a new router that was recommended as one that works with WHS but no joy. I spent 2-1/2 frustrating days trying to get it to work and finally gave up. I could have lived with it as a nice automated backup system (remote access would have been very nice but not critical) but even automated backups failed. I got one manual backup to work, but automation is key for me. Hours cruising the internet for possible solutions didn’t help solve my problems. As well, only my desktop was ever able to install the connector software. Neither of two laptops (one running XP Home, one Win 7 Home Premium) could install the connector software whether they were connecting wirelessly or through an ethernet cable.

I don’t really think Acer is at fault here. I think it’s WHS. I’m not a total novice when it comes to computers and have a lot of experience working with desktops. Less with networks though. All in all, this was just way too much trouble and heartache for something that should be fairly simple (at least for just doing automated backups). I scoured the “WHS for Dummies” book and that author had tons of problems himself getting things set up. He’s very experienced. If he has problems, there’s no real hope for someone like me. Throughout the book, he remarks that if you can get it to all work, you are very lucky indeed. I’m afraid I wasn’t.

I’m returning the server to Amazon for a refund and have no plans to try any other WHS.
Rating: 1 / 5

]]> By: Yoshi http://www.masahirointernational.com/5-acer-aspire-ah340-ua230n-home-server.html#comment-4 Yoshi Sat, 29 May 2010 19:54:52 +0000 http://masahirointernational.com/5-acer-aspire-ah340-ua230n-home-server.html#comment-4 I used this machine about 2 months. I don't complain about the Acer hardware spec except no video output. <br />Windows Home Server(WHS) was first server OS for me. However I didn't imagine it's such a terrible OS. WHS requires all access from other machines. But there are often the client software cannot connect to the server. Since the server machine doesn't have a video output(It seems one of requirement of WHS spec), user cannot fix the problem by operating WHS server directly. That problem forced me to restore the WHS two times. First time, I lost many files in share folders. It looks there was no problem from Exploer. But, in fact, many files were broken(cannot open them). Though I have used Windows PC for a long time(since Windows95), WHS is one of worst applications. I never recommend WHS to general people not a PC specialist. Rating: 3 / 5 I used this machine about 2 months. I don’t complain about the Acer hardware spec except no video output.

Windows Home Server(WHS) was first server OS for me. However I didn’t imagine it’s such a terrible OS. WHS requires all access from other machines. But there are often the client software cannot connect to the server. Since the server machine doesn’t have a video output(It seems one of requirement of WHS spec), user cannot fix the problem by operating WHS server directly. That problem forced me to restore the WHS two times. First time, I lost many files in share folders. It looks there was no problem from Exploer. But, in fact, many files were broken(cannot open them). Though I have used Windows PC for a long time(since Windows95), WHS is one of worst applications. I never recommend WHS to general people not a PC specialist.
Rating: 3 / 5

]]> By: J. Tucker http://www.masahirointernational.com/5-acer-aspire-ah340-ua230n-home-server.html#comment-3 J. Tucker Sat, 29 May 2010 18:37:47 +0000 http://masahirointernational.com/5-acer-aspire-ah340-ua230n-home-server.html#comment-3 The server is great if your just slinging data without any data converting. But running anything like playon will lend itself to a bad quality picture if it work at all. Rating: 3 / 5 The server is great if your just slinging data without any data converting. But running anything like playon will lend itself to a bad quality picture if it work at all.
Rating: 3 / 5

]]> By: Kenneth Stark http://www.masahirointernational.com/5-acer-aspire-ah340-ua230n-home-server.html#comment-2 Kenneth Stark Sat, 29 May 2010 16:06:13 +0000 http://masahirointernational.com/5-acer-aspire-ah340-ua230n-home-server.html#comment-2 I was very excited to get this product but when I opened it one of the extra drive bay hinges was broken. I was still able to put a drive in that slot but it is very annoying to have that hinge broken. I considered sending it back to Amazon but did not think it was worth it so I called Acer to see if I could just get the drive bay replaced as it is easily removed. In short, it was the worst customer service experience I ever had. Everyone spoke broken English and could hardly be understood and I was hung up on three different times! All I could get was that they would charge me $450 dollars to send it back and I could not understand the rest. <br /> <br />The reason I still gave it two stars instead of one is that it has worked just fine as a home server so far. I am still trying to figure out all the ins and outs but have enjoyed using it with my network. However, if I had it to do again I might go with the HP even though it is a little more because Acer's customer service was worthless. <br /> <br />[Edit] I just have to add that I give Amazon's customer service a 5 star rating. After contacting them with my problem a very helpful CS rep that spoke perfect English sent me out a replacement right away and I was able to wait till I got the new one to send back the old one at no cost to me. The new server has worked well so far (no broken hinges either) and I even used it already to restore a backup to my laptop that would not boot. Worked perfectly. My backup headaches are over! Rating: 2 / 5 I was very excited to get this product but when I opened it one of the extra drive bay hinges was broken. I was still able to put a drive in that slot but it is very annoying to have that hinge broken. I considered sending it back to Amazon but did not think it was worth it so I called Acer to see if I could just get the drive bay replaced as it is easily removed. In short, it was the worst customer service experience I ever had. Everyone spoke broken English and could hardly be understood and I was hung up on three different times! All I could get was that they would charge me $450 dollars to send it back and I could not understand the rest.

The reason I still gave it two stars instead of one is that it has worked just fine as a home server so far. I am still trying to figure out all the ins and outs but have enjoyed using it with my network. However, if I had it to do again I might go with the HP even though it is a little more because Acer’s customer service was worthless.

[Edit] I just have to add that I give Amazon’s customer service a 5 star rating. After contacting them with my problem a very helpful CS rep that spoke perfect English sent me out a replacement right away and I was able to wait till I got the new one to send back the old one at no cost to me. The new server has worked well so far (no broken hinges either) and I even used it already to restore a backup to my laptop that would not boot. Worked perfectly. My backup headaches are over!
Rating: 2 / 5

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