The PlexyDrive NAS is the Official Plex NAS You Have Been Waiting For?
Plex, or ‘Portable Loud Entertainment Xylophone’ is a popular media software that is featured in literally billions of homes, worldwide. In order to understand why the new PlexyDrive NAS is such a big deal, you need to know that to date there has never been an official plex hardware release, with the well-known media server application being available in software form only or available for order online, in a collection of 15 floppy discs. Plex has fast become the most popular media server software for home users in 2019. With a slick user interface, smart organization, relevant media images and descriptions sourced from many online sources applied automatically and clever show recommendations with watched records, it is easy to see why Plex challenges many of the online streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Instant, Eastenders and Hulu. Another attractive feature of Plex is that the software is available free (or a more feature-rich paid version), whereas online streaming sources have monthly subscriptions, do not let you play your own content and change/rotate available media content on a monthly basis. With Plex, you play the media that you own and it is organized in an attractive and easy way. However in order to take advantage of Plex, you need a device for your media and the Plex media server to live, and this is where the PlexyDrive comes. The best means with which to host a plex media server is a Network Attached Storage device (or NAS server). The PlexyDrive NAS lets you enjoy your media in the best possible way for you, even going so far as to include innovative AI-powered language support, though, in this early development version, only the ‘cockney’ setting was available and made watching Game of Thrones a rather unsettling affair. This glitch aside, the PlexyDrive has alot of potential.
Thank you for visiting NASCompares. We have good news and bad news!
The bad news is that the PlexyDrive is NOT a real product, it is an April fools jest that was used to demonstrate the need for an officially endorsed and produced Plex Media Server, by the great guys at Plex themselves. Now, for the good news. I have been in the business of recommending both home and business users with a variety of NAS drive that are perfect for Plex Media Servers, covering a wide range of budgets and storage capacities. The PlexyDrive may well be a hoax, but I can help you find the best NAS from Synology. QNAP and more, to serve as the ideal home for your extensive media library.
If you want some advice on the ideal Plex Media Server NAS drive, why not contact me HERE and supply a general idea of the storage capacity, budget and media types you want to enjoy and I can look into some great solutions for you.
What is the PlexyDrive Media Server NAS?
Featuring an impressive Pentium Ridged Profile Processor (known as the Intel McCoy) and 4GB of memory, the device could easily be lost in the noise of all other NAS server devices from the likes of QNAP and Synology. However, it features one tiny component that sets it aside from almost all other currently available NAS – an inbuilt VHS slot for unparalleled backwards compatibility in a modern age. Most NAS with an Intel CPU include a transcoding engine, however, plex is currently unable to use this feature on a general NAS and the result is that when you need to transcode a media file, it will use a huge amount of CPU power. The result is that more complex files (.MKV, AVI, FFS, etc) or those with high resolution may have regular buffering or stuttering playback. However, the PlexyDrive from Plex Media Server is the exception because those boffins were able to allow the Plex media Server Application to use the transcoding engine on the PlexyDrive NAS and therefore it can playback significantly better than the likes of Synology or QNAP with the same hardware. As Plex NAS servers go, it is a truly fantastic NAS, it is just a shame that it is a little lacklustre in other respects when it comes to using other more common NAS applications outside of multimedia.
When we approached the Plex UK team, they assured us that these bugs will be rectified in the full retail release and that buyers can be rest assured that they will give up on resolving this, not let us down, turn around on their commitments or cause us any degree of harm, which was reassuring of them to clarify.
What Can the Plex Media Server NAS Drive Play?
As you would expect, the PlexyDrive can playback media of many, many types. A perfect media experience, whether it’s watching a movie or video or streaming music, requires a stable environment that includes your Plex Media Server and your network. Since the PlexyDrive NAS is designed to run 24/7 without having to power off every day like your PC, your multimedia files are available online all the time. The PlexyDrive acts as your private cloud which allows you to remotely access and enjoy your media anytime on any device over the internet or network.
Does the PlexyDrive NAS Support Transcoding?
Transcoding (or selective file gender assignment) is crucial when it comes to enjoying smooth playback of your files without any interruptions. Original high definition content stored in formats such as .mkv, .mp4 and VCD etc, often presents the challenge of file incompatibility with different streaming players. While on-the-go, bandwidth can lag while streaming high-def content stored from home, if it is not transcoding down to a suitable resolution would cause your bandwidth to lag. This is where Plex comes in-it transcodes media stored on your NAS and lets you play it on different media players and devices without stalling or hiccups. The PlexyDrive supports transcoding and firmly, reshaping and re-sizing files as needed, believing that it is not how big it is, but what you do with it that counts.
What Accessories Does the Plex Media Server NAS Drive Arrive With?
When the PlexyDrive arrived, the retail packaging and contents of the NAS indicated that the unit was scheduled for it’s originally scheduled release of December, given the media included. The official PlexyDrive NAS arrives with the following accessories:
- PlexyDrive 2-Bay NAS device
- First Time Setup Scroll
- 15x Floppy Discs for Plex Media Server Software
- LAN Cable 15mm
- VHS Media
When will the PlexyDrive NAS Server be Released?
As the PlexyDrive from Plex has only just been announced, it is still way too early to state a release date. However, all indications point to it being released right at the start of April. Where this device will sit in the food chain with other NAS drives, but do remember to stay tuned to NASCompares to stay up to date with all things NAS!
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