Seagate GoFlex Satellite Mobile Wireless Storage 500 GB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive STBF500101 Black

I took a year to purchase my satellite. I read, re-read and read between the lines of product reviews. Reading between the lines, I figured out most of the quirks that were do to non-geekery of the reviewer so I was ready for some of the challenging aspects and the usability when I plugged my long-awaited satellite in. The initialization went very smoothly, I downloaded the latest software and charged it up completely and started the transfer. In the year I was waiting I fastidiously ripped a stellar collection of Film Noir and other classics that I really enjoy watching. I went further and converted the files into MP4s that were formatted to watch on my iDevices (iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone). I dragged these files into my iTunes which I had configured to store all media on an external 2T iomega. Being slightly OCD...my original rips stored on the external (most around 6GIG) are filed in categories of my own creation (NOIR, NEO-NOIR, L.A.NOIR etc...). But wait, there's more... Once the movies were converted and dragged into iTunes I opened file information for each movie and added my own downloaded image and a few other choice pieces of info that would help me keep the movies interesting. iTunes does not have a very good foldering system so I created playlists to categorize the movies. Too much? I think not. Loading the files into the Satellite went seamlessly. Once everything was loaded up the connections to various devices, setting up security and all that were perfect. The movies played as chosen the device was exactly what I wanted and expected for storing my esoteric collection. I was pleasantly surprised at the ability to also connect to the internet while connected to the device, though that was never a deal breaker to me. I expected some issues with disconnections occasional stuttering and other minor glitches. I get a few...here and there...but for $150 I still see this as a tremendous value. THE GOOD: Do your homework, spend a little time learning about the device and for storing and wirelessly streaming 500gigs of media (which is what I bought it for) it is a really bitchen little toy. I use it plugged in almost exclusively, I am aware of battery limitations on almost any device and have obsessively configured my tech life to have electricity available. If there is no electricity of some sort available...it's probably a good time to take a break from tech. THE WANTS: Being...somewhat control focused...I would like to be able to work some of my foldering classifications into the device. It would be cool if the iTunes interface (bad as it is) transferred over intact. The playlists for the music transferred over and work fine but the movie playlists confused the device. I rigged my iPad with a $30 connector to play media on my entertainment center in the living room. Netflix works OK this way and any movies stored on the 64gigs of the iPad...but when I tried to stream through the Satellite it was ugly. Everything crashed. Been wanting to find a device to use wi-fi and network the higher quality files fromt the external drive on the entertainment center anyway...next geek project to tackle. I am not sure how the Satellite picks images to use for Video; if I opened the info on the file in iTunes and uploaded my own image it transferred over...if not goflex interface picked the image from one movie (in this case "Anatomy to a Murder") and put that on any video that I did not manipulate. Being visually oriented makes it a (minor) irritation. Further, when I took the trouble to remedy by "fixing:" those images no amount of refreshing would change them; have to delete and re-load the video...meh, a minor irritation. THE MEH: Loading the thumbnails is painfully slow with close to 300 videos stored. They do get there...eventually. Clicking on the "file sort" makes it a little quicker but then I lose one more of my lauded classifications. MEH>>> The connection cuts out once in a while, but what the hey? MEH>>> Okey, Okey, the battery life yada, yada. REALLY?? Get out and take a walk, trees, sky, birds all in living 3D is kinda cool once in a while. MEH>>> Please don't listen to some of the whining from over-indulged, self-esteemed twits. This little "toy" is as close to perfect an answer as I could find for my collection of movies THAT FITS IN THE PALM OF MY HAND!! It's an amazing time for a 50 year old who remembers that this was only a "in-the-future" pipe dream. Thank you Goflex. I like my satellite and am looking forward to the new and improved versions in the future...this one is full.

This review must be started by addressing the UI and software, because most of the negative reviews are software related. The default Seagate UI and software definetely leaves alot to be desired on the iPad and iPhone. However, there are several third party apps which work much better than the Seagate Software and connect to the Satellite as a DLNA server, thus the clunky browser interface is eliminated. Even the third party apps will not organize and sort music like the iOS Native Music App, but work well enough. Worst case, you play an entire album and then you have to select another one or you can create folders which could act as playlists. While a little bit inconvenient, having 500GB of wireless storage space for my iOS devices is well worth it. I have streamed 720P movies with no problem once so ever on both my iPhone and iPad. Even with a dual stream of music going to my wife's iPhone and a 720P movie streaming to my iPad at the same time, I experienced no delays or quality degradation in the movie. With the new firmware upgrade I believe you can now stream to up to 8 devices simulataneously, although if you are streaming HD Movies it is recommended to stay at a maximum of three devices. On top of the quality of the video while streaming, the Satellite acts as a true "router" and I have been about 65 feet from it with no delay or lag in the streaming. The USB 3.0 data transfer is extremely fast and I achieved a pretty consistent 200MB/Sec, while this is way off from the USB 3.0 hypothetical speeds, this is 8x improvement from any USB 2.0 device that I have used. There is also a $20 adapter which can be purchased to utilize FireWire 800 mainly geared at Apple Users. Also for Apple Users is included software (which you will be prompted to install upon plugging into a Mac) to interface this NTFS formatted hard drive with the Fat 32 only Mac OS. So essentially you can plug it into PC or Mac and it will work seamlessly. The Satellite is a reliable wireless storage solution for your iOS devices, but equally important to me is that it acts as a reliable WiFi Router. Portable multiplayer iOS Gaming is possible with the Satellite and works really well for this. I recently travelled to Africa on a business trip and used the Satellite to set up a Multi Player iOS gaming session with three other iPads and it worked flawlessly. I had an Apple Airport Express on the shopping list, but no need now as the Seagates WiFi Network works great. It also worked to link up two laptops for Flight Simulator X and did so without any issues. My only real issue is the battery life when watching movies, but quite honestly I dont really use it while on longer international flights as my iPad has enough space to hold a couple of movies for the flight and more than enough battery power. Once I get to my destination I just plug it in turn it on and stream away. Given the Satellites solid performance streaming just about anything and its ability to act as a real Wi-Fi Router, the $200 I paid seems to me to be a steal and now it is priced at $175. I guess the biggest con would be the lack of organization for music lovers who want an iTunes inspired music interface fresh with album art and playlists. If you need more than about 3.5 to 4 hours of video streaming on battery power then this may not work for you either. For everyone else who has an iOS, Mac OS, or Windows Wi-Fi capable device then the Seagate Satellite is definetely worth the money.

アドホック接続のみだったGoflexですが、3月のファームアップデートで、インターネット接続が可能になりました。 goflex自身をルータにする仕様で、ドライブのホームページから間接的に接続するWi-Fi接続先を指定することができます。 WPA2-PSKのような長いキーには対応しきれていないようですが、WEP128では簡単に接続することができました。 そのうち、WPSで簡単につながるようになるかもしれませんね。 とにかく3GのないiPadなどでインターネットが利用できるようになって嬉しいです。

色々な使い方ができます。 僕の使い方としては ① iTunesのデータの保存 ※そうする事で外出先でもiTunesのデータを回覧できます。 アルバムアートワークを設定すればiPhone、iPadなどの回覧時に表示されます。 ② 通勤中・移動中・出張中等でもバッグに入れておけばボタン一つで映画を楽しめます Wi-Fi内蔵型なので周りに無線LAN環境の無い場所でも問題なく使えます。 ※インターネットへの接続は他のWi-Fiが必要になります。 <改善点> もう少しコンパクトになればさらに良いです。

iPadやiPhoneからアップロードできないのが残念。 少ない容量をサポートしてくれると思って買ったので、アプリで対応を待ってます。

the seller provides very good service and support.

WIFIにつながるまでに時間がかかる、他のWIFIは切れるのは仕方がないが、切り替えに時間がかかるとストレスになる。たしかにPogoplugにつなぐよりは、ずいぶんPDFへのアクセスははやくなる。しかし、とにかく重い。iPADのパートナーなら、軽くかつデザインの美しさは必要だ。Appleのスタイルの良さがより際立つ。 一番のネックは、コストパフォーマンス、今、５００では足りなくなるのは時間の問題。それにしては、値段が高すぎる。Amazon.comでも、評判は悪く、販売会社のHomepageでも☆の少ないカスタマーには、販売会社が懸命にコメント、回答をしている。アイデアとしては非常に惹かれるものだが、１）WIFI切り替えがおそすぎる、２）重い、３）デザインの悪さ、４）コストがかかりすぎるなどの問題解決が急務だ。日本の会社から、全うな日本らしい機種が出ることが望ましい。まだ、買いどきではない。