Should You Back or Bail on the UGREEN NASync Kickstarter Campaign?
With the UGREEN NAS campaign drawing close to an end, I think a lot of users are wondering where exactly the UGREEN NAS system is at? So, SO many reviews online (more on how/why later), but it’s been a month – has the system got better, got worse? Do the comments in those reviews still hold water? I wanted to assemble a few of the earliest and more balanced reviewers I could find who have shared their thoughts on the UGREEN NAS online and chat to them a month later to get their further input on it. I assembled panel, consisting of Me (Robbie from NASCompares) ,Lauri from Tech Notice, Frank from WunderTech and Logan from TwoGuyzTech — to come back to the system and brand, to help users decide whether they should get off the fence and back it, keep continuing to back this Kickstarter Campaign, or ‘get off’ the hype train now before its too late. These three YouTube reviewers and myself were among the first to receive and review the NASync series more than a month ago. Although their reviews are now live, UGREEN have continued to roll out updates to the system software, posted comments and updates on their crowdfunding campaign and outlined a lot of their proposed plans for these new systems. How much of that is going to be present in the finished product, how much is long-term roadmap stuff and how much is just hot air, is up for debate.
I wanted to talk with these three reviewers 1 month later to discuss where they are at with the UGREEN NAS device they were sent, have things improved and their thoughts on what this means for the NAS market. The Kickstarter has been notably successful, raising nearly 5 million pounds with more than 12,000 backers, necessitating a critical and informed analysis for those considering investment. As good as all that sounds, a lot of users who backed this project a month ago at launch might be having cold feet and want to know where the product is ‘at’ now, as updates by UGREEN during the fundraising period have been a little sparse (though responding to commentors has been better). Likewise, there are going to be more cautious users who are still on the fence and just want to know where the NASync series is at ‘at the 11th hour’ before they choose to back this. So, here is the results of that discussion. Thanks again to Lauri, Frank and Logan for their time. None of us have been paid/sponsored by UGREEN for this content or our reviews, these are our own opinions (the good and the bad!).
VIDEO LINK
In a Rush? Here is the TL:DR on The UGREEN NAS 1 Month On
Logan @TwoGuyzTech – Logan, who provided the inaugural review of the DXP 4800 Plus model, begins by praising UGREEN’s capabilities in hardware manufacturing. He describes the unit as robust, featuring an impressive CPU setup with a unique configuration that lends itself well to demanding tasks. Despite this, Logan highlights significant discrepancies between the marketed and actual features—particularly the absence of Thunderbolt 4 support, despite promotional materials suggesting otherwise. This, he argues, could mislead potential buyers about the product’s capabilities. Expanding on hardware limitations, Logan critiques the system’s scalability and expansion potential. Unlike competitors like Synology, which allow for easy scalability through expansion units, UGREEN’s system lacks similar functionalities. This could deter users whose storage needs might grow. Moreover, the absence of a PCIe slot for adding extra network interfaces is seen as a missed opportunity to enhance the system’s connectivity and performance capabilities, potentially limiting its appeal to more advanced users.
Frank @Wundertech – Frank shifts the focus to the software side of the NAS. He appreciates UGREEN’s strategic decision to concentrate on core functionalities, which simplifies the user interface and system maintenance. This approach, according to Frank, allows for a more stable foundational system that can be incrementally improved through updates. However, he identifies critical deficiencies in the backup functionalities that are vital for NAS systems. Initially, the device was limited to basic R-Sync and proprietary UGREEN device backups, which he found inadequate. During his testing, Frank encountered significant issues with the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol, a standard service for file sharing over a network. He discovered that upon attempting to access the NAS via SMB, he had unrestricted access to all directories without needing authentication—a severe security flaw. This issue indicates that the NAS system might not enforce proper user authentication, potentially exposing sensitive data. Despite updates attempting to address these concerns, the initial oversight raises questions about the rigor of UGREEN’s software testing and security protocols.
Lauri @TheTechNotice – Lauri offers a broader critique of the tech industry’s trend towards launching unpolished products with the intent to issue fixes post-launch. He expresses his frustration with the UGREEN system, which was marketed as ready-to-use yet exhibited numerous software glitches and usability issues upon receipt. Basic functionalities like software updates and file access were problematic, echoing a “release now, fix later” approach that he finds unacceptable. Lauri also faced SMB-related challenges, albeit different from Frank’s. His attempts to connect to the NAS via SMB were thwarted by the system’s inability to map network drives or properly save SMB settings, suggesting deeper issues with the software’s network handling capabilities. These experiences highlight inconsistencies in the product’s performance, further complicating the potential user’s decision-making process.
Marketing Strategies, Consumer Impact and Conclusion – The panel extensively discusses UGREEN’s marketing strategy, noting the company’s decision to flood the market with review units. This approach, while ensuring widespread visibility, may dilute the impact of individual reviews and obscure critical feedback due to the sheer volume of content available. Such a strategy can mask the product’s deficiencies, making it difficult for potential buyers to gauge the system’s reliability and performance accurately. Concluding the discussion, the panel agrees that while UGREEN’s NAS hardware is commendably robust and well-designed, the software side lags in maturity and reliability. They stress the importance for potential backers to understand the ongoing development of the software, especially given the critical SMB issues and general lack of software polish at launch.
What did Lauri from TheTechNotice Think of the UGREEN NAS Range 1 Month on, How the Brand Approached the Market and His Experience with the Device?
Lauri from Tech Notice offers a unique perspective by critiquing not just the Ugreen NAS SYNC series but also the broader tech industry’s trend toward releasing products that are not fully vetted or complete. He starts his discussion by expressing a general dissatisfaction with the practice of launching products that are ostensibly unfinished, with the intention of resolving issues through later updates. This approach, he argues, places undue burden on consumers who expect a finished, fully functional product upon purchase. Lauri’s frustration is rooted in his personal experiences with the Ugreen NAS, which was marketed as ready-to-use but exhibited several software glitches and usability issues right out of the box. He details problems such as difficulties with software updates and accessing files—basic functionalities that were inconsistent or non-functional upon initial use. Such issues underscore a “release now, fix later” philosophy that he finds unacceptable, especially when consumers are not adequately forewarned about the state of the product.
Expanding on his critique, Lauri discusses his specific encounters with the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol within the Ugreen system. Unlike Frank’s experience where access was too permissive, Lauri faced the opposite problem: an inability to effectively map network drives or adjust SMB settings. This inconsistency in SMB protocol handling between units further illustrates the lack of uniformity and reliability in Ugreen’s software development, complicating the user experience and diminishing the product’s reliability. Moreover, Lauri notes the NAS’s aesthetic and physical design, acknowledging that while the hardware appears polished and well-designed, the software does not match this quality. This disparity leads to a jarring contrast between the product’s promising physical presentation and its underwhelming functional performance. He points out that such discrepancies can lead to consumer distrust, as the sleek design sets expectations that the software functionality currently does not meet.
Throughout his review, Lauri also touches upon the responsiveness of the company to feedback. While he notes some improvements following user complaints and updates, he emphasizes that the fundamental approach of rushing products to market remains a significant concern. This strategy, prevalent in the tech industry, often results in products that require considerable post-market modification to reach the standard expected by consumers at launch. Lauri’s assessment provides a critical analysis of the Ugreen NAS SYNC series, particularly highlighting the problematic industry trend of premature product releases. His insights stress the importance of aligning product functionality with consumer expectations and market standards. Lauri’s critique serves as a call to action for tech companies to prioritize thorough testing and development before launch, ensuring that products meet all advertised functionalities and security standards to foster trust and satisfaction among users.
You Can find out more about Lauri HERE on his YouTube Channel
How Did Frank from WunderTech Find his time with the UGREEN NAS System? Did He Encounter Problems and Would He Recommend it?
Frank from WunderTech begins his discussion by highlighting the strategic focus Ugreen has adopted in the development of their NAS SYNC series software. He appreciates the company’s deliberate choice to concentrate on refining core features instead of overloading the system with an extensive array of applications. This approach, he argues, facilitates a more stable base system that is easier for users to manage and for developers to troubleshoot and improve over time. It also aligns well with Ugreen’s apparent goal of making the NAS user-friendly and reliable in performing fundamental tasks. However, Frank identifies critical deficiencies in the system’s software, especially concerning its backup functionalities—an essential component for NAS systems. Initially, the device was constrained to basic R-Sync and backups to another proprietary Ugreen device. Such limitations significantly reduce the utility and appeal of the NAS for users who need versatile and robust backup solutions, which are critical for data integrity and disaster recovery. Frank notes that while subsequent software updates have introduced additional features like Docker, which broadens the system’s capabilities and appeal, the core issue with limited backup options remains a significant concern.
During his evaluation, Frank encountered severe issues with the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol, a standard service in NAS systems for sharing files over networks. He was startled to find that upon attempting to access the NAS via SMB, he had unrestricted access to all directories without needing any form of user authentication. This discovery points to a severe security oversight, exposing sensitive data to potential unauthorized access. Such a fundamental flaw in access control is troubling and raises questions about the robustness of Ugreen’s software security measures. Frank further discusses the implications of these security issues, emphasizing the risk they pose not only to data confidentiality but also to the overall trust in Ugreen’s product. He suggests that while the hardware may be solid, the software’s inability to ensure basic security protocols could deter potential users who prioritize data security. This aspect is crucial for businesses and individual users who rely on NAS systems to store sensitive or critical information.
Moreover, Frank appreciates the incremental software updates that Ugreen has been rolling out, which demonstrate the company’s commitment to addressing feedback and improving the product. He highlights a particular update that resolved some of the earlier problems with the backup options, albeit still not to the extent that he considers fully satisfactory. The addition of features like Docker is viewed positively as it indicates Ugreen’s responsiveness to user needs and their willingness to expand the system’s functionality over time. Frank’s analysis provides a detailed critique of the Ugreen NAS SYNC series from a software perspective. He credits the company for its focused and strategic approach to software development but underscores significant areas of concern, particularly around security and backup functionalities. His insights suggest that while the hardware may be competitive, the software requires substantial improvements to meet industry standards and user expectations, particularly in areas crucial for data security and flexibility in data management.
You Can find out more about Frank HERE on his YouTube Channel
What did Logan from TwoGuyzTech Think of the UGREEN NAS and where it is at 1 Month Later?
Logan from TwoGuyzTech, who provided the inaugural review of the DXP 4800 Plus model, begins his feedback by praising the robustness and overall hardware quality of Ugreen’s NAS system. He emphasizes the powerful CPU configuration, which features a single performance core along with four efficiency cores. This setup is particularly notable as it is uncommon in NAS systems within the same price bracket, offering potentially higher processing speeds and better handling of multiple tasks simultaneously. Despite the strong hardware foundation, Logan points out significant discrepancies between Ugreen’s marketing materials and the actual product features—specifically, the absence of Thunderbolt 4 support on half of the range, yet it was very prominent in the advertising (as was the 10GbE connectivity). This issue is not just a minor oversight; it’s a major deviation from what was advertised in terms of what some less knowledgable users would expect to receive, which could mislead potential buyers about the product’s capabilities. Logan stresses that such discrepancies could erode trust and satisfaction among consumers, who may feel they are not getting the full value as promised.
Further expanding on the product’s hardware, Logan notes that while the NAS performs well in its current state, the lack of scalability is a critical downside. He compares the Ugreen NAS SYNC series unfavorably with competitors like Synology, which offers easy scalability through additional expansion units. This limitation in Ugreen’s design means that users with increasing data storage needs would find the product less useful over time as their requirements grow. Logan also criticizes the absence of a PCIe slot, which would allow users to add additional network interfaces or other expansions. This feature is typically valued by advanced users who may need more customization or additional bandwidth for data-intensive tasks. The lack of such a feature further narrows the potential user base of the product, making it less appealing to a segment of the market that could benefit from greater connectivity options.
Addressing another aspect of hardware capability, Logan discusses the system’s input/output options. While he acknowledges that the NAS provides adequate I/O ports that should meet the needs of most users, he points out that the implementation of these ports could have been optimized better to enhance performance further. This feedback suggests a missed opportunity to maximize the hardware’s potential, which could have differentiated the Ugreen NAS SYNC series more clearly from its competitors. Logan’s detailed review provides a nuanced perspective on the Ugreen NAS SYNC series. While he commends the robust hardware and CPU design, he is critical of the marketing misrepresentations and the system’s limitations in scalability and expansion. His feedback underscores the importance of aligning marketing messages with actual product capabilities and designing with future scalability in mind to meet the evolving needs of users.
You Can find out more about Logan HERE on his YouTube Channel
How UGREEN have Approached Marketing and Launching the NASync Series – Good or Bad?
The UGREEN NAS SYNC series marketing strategy reflects a robust and aggressive approach aimed at capturing market attention quickly and broadly. UGREEN’s decision to distribute a large number of review units (possibly in the hundreds in just a matter of weeks) prior to the completion of its Kickstarter campaign ensured that the product received widespread visibility across various media platforms. This saturation strategy is not uncommon in the tech industry but stands out due to the volume of units distributed and the breadth of coverage sought. From a marketing perspective, this approach can significantly amplify product awareness and generate buzz, creating a groundswell of potential customer interest and engagement early in the product lifecycle – choosing to spend their ‘marketing budget’ on sending products to small-niche reviewers and influences, rather than traditional online marketing and targeting bigger platforms. However, this aggressive marketing strategy also raises several concerns. One major issue discussed by the panel is the potential dilution of individual reviews’ impact. With so many reviews available, it becomes challenging for consumers to find consistent information and form a clear opinion about the product’s quality and reliability. This could inadvertently mask critical feedback that might be crucial for potential users making informed purchasing decisions. Additionally, by flooding the market with review units, UGREEN risks creating a perception that might not fully align with the user experience, particularly if the product under-delivers compared to what is seen in widespread positive reviews.
Moreover, there was always an inherent risk in UGREEN’s approach regarding consumer trust. If the product failed to meet the expectations set by its aggressive marketing, it could lead to customer dissatisfaction and damage the brand’s reputation in the long run if a LARGE number of reviewers had encountered persistent issues and that would have been heavility publized in turn. Therefore we have to give them some credit for the courage of their convictions to trust that their product would not ‘hang itself’ in the court of public opinion, when sent at such high volume in a comparatively unfinished state. This is especially pertinent given the software issues highlighted during the panel discussion. The strategy of relying heavily on post-launch updates to address fundamental flaws—flaws that are sometimes glossed over due to the sheer volume of initial positive reviews—could backfire, leading to frustrated users who feel misled by the reviews they consulted before purchasing. While UGREEN’s marketing strategy for the NAS SYNC series has virtues in terms of reach and visibility, it also poses significant risks that hinge on the company’s ability to deliver a product that truly matches the expectations set forth in its widespread marketing campaign. The approach requires a delicate balance between aggressive marketing and product quality assurance to maintain and grow consumer trust. This all brings into question once again, why a brand this large has opted for crowdfunding through Kickstarter – as it is fairly clear that this is a product that is either (in terms of hardware) finished and in production already, or at the very least is more than ready for ‘pre order’ if it had been on sale at your local eShop. The marketing and ‘user interest’ benefits of Kickstarter are useful, but the ‘indie’ and ‘small business’ focus of crowdfunding continues to diminish!
Should You Back the UGREEN NAS Kickstarter? Or Should You Back Out Now?
Based on the detailed discussions from Frank, Lauri, Robbie, and Logan, the consensus on whether to recommend the UGREEN NAS SYNC series appears to be mixed and highly dependent on the specific needs and technical tolerance of potential users. Frank acknowledges the solid hardware and appreciates the strategic focus on core functionalities, which simplifies the user experience and system management. However, he is significantly concerned about the software’s maturity, particularly around security flaws with the SMB protocol and limited backup functionalities. Frank might recommend the NAS to tech-savvy users who are comfortable handling and potentially resolving these issues themselves, particularly those interested in leveraging the strong hardware by installing a third-party OS or those looking for a budget-friendly NAS solution that could improve over time with software updates.
Lauri, on the other hand, expresses strong reservations due to the “release now, fix later” philosophy he perceives in the tech industry, which he finds particularly evident in the UGREEN product. His experience with software glitches and poor user interface could deter him from recommending the NAS to users who expect a seamless, out-of-the-box experience. Lauri might only recommend this product to users who are enthusiasts or hobbyists who enjoy troubleshooting and have the patience to wait for potential fixes and updates that could eventually realize the hardware’s full potential.
Logan is broadly more positive about the system and, if the case of using a 3rd party OS (one you get over the installation hurdles) recommends the system. But still thinks that UGREEN could stand to be a little more clear in how the product is being presented, As a pre-built NAS product, especially at the crowdfunding price point, it’s hard to argue with. However, if/when the system crosses into traditional retail (with a loftier RRP), the virtues of the system’s value may well diminish and hopefully, UGREEN will maintain enthusiasm in the product range and software to roll in a phase 2, phase 3 and eventually an established product that can sand up next to the market leaders.
I (Robbie) acknowledge the potential of the hardware but am cautious about the software issues that have been repeatedly highlighted. I would certainly recommend the NAS to a niche market of users who value hardware specifications and cost-effectiveness over immediate, robust software functionality (the growing ‘middle’ between turnkey NAS and DiY Server Build Home-Labbers). These users would likely be those who are not dependent on advanced features or who have the technical ability to manage and mitigate the system’s current shortcomings. My recommendation would likely come with the caveat that buyers keep their expectations in check regarding the software and stay informed about ongoing updates and community feedback. Ultimately, while the UGREEN NAS SYNC series shows promise due to its robust hardware and competitive pricing, the recommendations from the panel are guarded and tailored to specific types of users. Potential buyers should weigh these considerations carefully against their personal or organizational needs and technical capabilities before making a decision.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Robust Hardware | Software Maturity |
| – The DXP 4800 Plus model features a powerful CPU setup with a single performance core and four efficiency cores, suitable for demanding tasks. | – The software has been criticized for being immature, with ongoing updates needed to address fundamental functionality and stability issues. |
| – Solid build quality and design that is recognized for its robustness, which adds to the reliability of the physical unit. | – Initial releases lacked comprehensive features, especially in backup functionalities which were limited to basic R-Sync and proprietary backups. |
| Scalability and Performance | Marketing vs Reality |
| – The hardware itself is recognized for high performance, which could be suitable for users with extensive data processing needs. | – Despite promotional materials suggesting advanced features like Thunderbolt 4 support, the actual product lacks these capabilities, leading to potential customer dissatisfaction and trust issues. |
| Focused Software Development | Security Concerns |
| – The strategy to concentrate on core functionalities rather than an abundance of features can lead to a more stable system that is easier to manage and troubleshoot. | – Significant security flaws were discovered, especially with the SMB protocol where authentication issues could expose sensitive data to unauthorized access. |
| Market Visibility | Expansion Limitations |
| – Extensive distribution of review units ensured widespread visibility and coverage, potentially increasing consumer awareness and interest. | – Compared to competitors like Synology, the UGREEN NAS system lacks easy scalability options such as expansion units, which limits the system’s long-term usability for growing storage needs. |
| Competitive Pricing | Inconsistent User Experience |
| – The UGREEN NAS offers a better value for its price point, especially when compared to the more expensive models from established brands like Synology and QNAP, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers. | – Users, including tech reviewers, reported inconsistent experiences, particularly with software updates and SMB settings, which could deter potential users from adopting the system. |
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The DXP-4800 Plus DOESN’T, DOESN’T support Seagate Exos x18 16tb (4) brand new hard drives i just bought! UFB UNBELIEVABLE! I wasted about over $1,200 !
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i love this nas but It is confusing that my Drives are 250MBps but I am Only getting 150MBps
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I got My Ugreen DPX 6800Pro two weeks ago.
I have so many issues, for instance, when I connect a thunderbolt unit to start the population process, it recognizes the drive as one of the SSD inside? how come?
I have not put an ssd yet so I wonder if Is going to conflict.
The USB 3.2 when I connect the same drive with a regular USB-C to USB 3.2 the process of 1tb take apron “2 DAYS” and when I extracted the same data from my SYNOLOGY 918+ was much less time.
I am ingesting back to my SYNOLOGY and taking 2hrs aprox?
so What’s going on Ugreen?
I have upgrade the memory to 40 ram.
so I am having serious thought about this investment. and why I did not stay with SYNOLOGY.
Their new update have quite few bug fixes.
Good to see a Synology competitor, maybe Synology start to release better things.
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hah love the video and the change between segments
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I came here because I’m a photographer that needs a NAS but do not want to touch a screwdriver or learn any jargan, wish there were more plug and play NAS.
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Hello! I have a question. I’m planning on ditching google photos and get myself one of these.
My question is : since you can create user profiles. If two different users backup their photos, will they be stored in the same photo library ? Or will each user have their own ?
For example say I have a 100 picture of a dog and my wife has 100 pictures of a cat, when I open the photos app. Will I see 200 pictures under my account ?
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Can it compete with Synology? Should I replace my DS920+ with this one?
I’m looking for 10GB connection.
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I listened to your whole video with the good and the bad(very well done). I would like to get this product now but I agree with you and I will wait till it goes full retail and then we will know if the hardware stays the same and if loading other OS’s like TrueNas and Proxmox will work or be allowed. I am super excited about the hardware and so disappointed with Synology with the restrictions they have on HD, NVMe and memory, it looks like Ugreen has the better hardware platform which is years newer and off the shelf parts we can upgrade.
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It’s a china company! You want to put all your data in their hands, huh? There’s an expensive cost to that cheaper solution.
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I think their focus should be the hardware release and only that. They can still come up with software. There are free third party NAS sofware pieces that work. Why make it a economic guessing game when you could be turning the market upside down easily
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Hopefully this will push the big players to stop releasing NAS with 3 gen old Celeron hardware. RN I am looking into upgrading my QNAP NAS and would love something with an Intel N100 or even N300 and there’s like NOTHING out there really unless I want some OS I’m not sure I am fine with or hacking the device to install another OS (which I definitely don’t want).
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my only interest in that nas would be to use it as a unraid box. i would not look at it as a “ugreen nas”, just as a hardware upgrade over my old mid tower nas
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ugreen needs to support more third party os’s like synology does…. oh wait…..
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i hope he can make 5 mins video’s.
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@nascompares official statement on power consumption
”
Here are the current power consumptions for different models.
fully loaded
DXP2800: Standby 51.29W (2*8TB HDD + 1*256GB SSD)
DXP4800: Standby 73.138W (4*8TB HDD + 1*256GB SSD)
General load
DXP2800: Standby 16.77W (2*4TB HDD + 1*256GB SSD)
DXP2800: Standby 26.92W (2*8TB HDD + 1*256GB SSD)
DXP4800: Standby 29.279W (2*4TB HDD + 1*256GB SSD)
DXP4800 Plus: Standby 30.608W (4*4TB HDD + 1*256GB SSD)
DXP4800 Plus: Standby 51.437W (4*8TB HDD + 1*256GB SSD)
Empty load
DXP2800: Standby 9.85W (no drives)
Other models are still being tested so we currently do not have data available to share.
”
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How were you able to access the actual BIOS? I still haven’t found a way into mine.
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I made it to 12 minutes in which I picked up a whole lot of good info so thanks for that, I will be watching UGreen’s progress. Unfortunately for me at just past 12 minutes the hyper-caffenated-rant style presentation went from novelty to distraction for me so I bailed.
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Thank you for making me realise it does not ship to the UK. Really annoying but saved me from looking more into it.
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I was going to buy this but if the Third Party OS option doesn’t change then I am out.
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they’ve made over 10 million so far, is insane for such a big company
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I never understood why companies need to make their devices exlusive. What difference does it make if they use it for A, B, C or D? Especially if you let them do them all, they’ll buy. If they can’t, you’re closing the door to purchasers…
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You’re so cool, I love you.
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Upvoting for content quality and Monty Python audio vibes <3
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Third-party OS is a big deal for me. I’m not buying it.
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Thanks for the vid, but completely pointless as it’s only attractive at a kickstarter price and only 2 countries in the world can get that …
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Aquatia NIC? Nope, I’m out. I have nothing but problems with that 10GBbe NIC. Maybe Ugreen does too. ????
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Yeah not being able to use my own choice of nas or raid software and being stuck with using an unfinished proprietary software that no one wants combined with performance issues makes this a hard NOPE. Run away, do not pass go, go straight to e-waste pile, and keep your money for something better.
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Great review. Thanks. I 100% with the crowd funding. Plus, it isn’t available now and I need one now. Any suggestions? Using it as a LLM backup. Currently 60TB. NEED MORE lol
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I saw another review stating you can actually install third party os with no issues including windows but the way you do it is you have to disable the ugos by either renaming the partition temporarily or otherwise and then the bios will allow you to boot from any other device you have installed or plugged it. You “trick” it into thinking the ugos (ugreen os) isn’t working
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The only channel that I follow for a real talk on NAS without the marketing BS
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I want that hoodie
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I still cannot realize how fast and hard british you speak but I still understand everything you say…
Let’s say I completely agree with you about the total madness about how UG started to sell this equipment.
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hi @nascompares someone made a video on how to install a custom os to ugreen nas… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc6tcfn6ukw can you try it?
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I want one but still no offer for uk!
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Thank you You have answered all my questions.
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Just watched aChair Leg’s vid and this vid back-to-back and read the comments here; I’m impressed at how decent quality these NAS boxes are for place-n-go even if the software side of things is still cooking, especially with how expensive Synology and such are for their hardware offerings.
Like; for the price of a 4-6 bay Synology NAS in AUD, I can get the 10TB HDD’s to fill that and pair them with the Z77/i7-3770K rig I just got laying around waiting for a rebuild and to be brought back to life, and have a better performance than whatever low-power chip Synology uses. Sure it’d be heavier on the power bill to use the 3770K, but it’ll be easier to troubleshoot and fix the problem.
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Have you tried running proxmox on it and virtualizing unraid/truenas? That would be promising if it could.
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Amazingn video! I was actually considering getting this but after seeing the crowfund status, your reviews and some comments here seems im not the user for this product right now.
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Yeah, no 3rd party is a deal breaker!
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I already have a WD Nas. Its my first, and I can tell you now, there is next to zero chance I’ll ever by another HDD one. Assuming this lasts two or three years, it just doesn’t make sense to be buying the things now for normal people. Not now that there are SSD NAS solutions, and those make no noise* and support more than enough storage.
A daydream NAS for me would be a mini-PC shaped box with 4 NVME slots, and a space in it for my choice of 120/140mm fan so I can choose one like a Noctua which is quiet.
*yes, I realise its not zero noise, but if its quiet enough I don’t notice it, it may as well be.
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Better hardware, average or below average software! I always come to this conclusion whenever I try to compare anything with Synology.
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Really you started with officers’ call for your highlight music? lol
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Does anyone know the idle power consumption of the just SSD version?
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All flash unit seems to be ripe for modding into monster spinning rust device with some m.2 to sata adapters.
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I was unhappy about the crowdfunding but interested in the hardware. I was a click away from buying until I stopped and saw what UGREEN did with 3rd Party OS. They are cutting out the group that would be the most excited about what (hardware) value they’re bringing.
No one should be forced to backup data on an unproven OS with a promise of future software updates. What disappointing decisions and response by UGREEN.
Big thanks to @nascompares for the thorough review. Glad I checked your channel before making a mistake.
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Thanks for the review. The hardware looks great, and the price is nice. I’m in the market for a new NAS this year.
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US and DE only? Maaaan….guess I am going the mini-PC + DAS route when Lunarlake drops????
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I’ve been burned in crowdfunding too many times. I’ll wait until it’s widely available before I consider it.
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I secured my 40% off rewards on Kickstarter. If they don’t announce their software fixes by the close of the campaign, I’m cancelling it.
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This NAS is made in China.. Unless you are ok to share your personal photos and privacy with someone in China and let CCP to monitor your daily activities, go ahead ????????????
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Crowdfunding hasn’t just been ‘indie’ for long long long time. I take it you haven’t used kickstarter in a long time, if ever. No idea why you are so worked up about that.
For a first product in an area they have never been the crowdfunding approach allows them long lead up to marketing and not to guess as to what the demand will be and then over or under produce product. It provides them channel for invested user input long before the product ships that they wouldn’t have otherwise. And finally, it allows for cash to fund the development ahead of time that they would never get from just listing it anywhere else.
You also seem to be thinking Ugreen is Google or Microsoft as far as resources go. That they can have all the data in the world and all the dev funds they need to do anything. Obviously not the case.
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I just bought a Terramaster F403 and I would ABSOLUTELY buy that 4bay model as an upgrade but ONLY if it supported TrueNAS Scale.
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U know- id not like to think it but its interesting if the rollout is limited due to privacy concerns in europe and other countries? Or do u think thats unrelated?????????????✌️
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what would a decaffeinated episode look like?
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Interesting, but will wait for the AMD version.
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Now that it is confirmed we can install 3rd party OS the question is why did you had problems to install one while others said it is possible without any problem?
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I just saw another YouTuber said if you rename the efi partition you can install other OS and it will stop looking for the ugos upon reboot. Robby can you try that and see if it solves the boot issue?? This sounds promising.
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ugreen, ugreen, ugreen … everywhere, everytime … I can smell a huge marketing campaign.
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Kickstarter won’t even let me order it for some reason… not a great start
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Just too expensive for me, especially their predicted retail pricing. Why not offer 2-tier pricing – 1) lower bare bones prices for tech enthusiasts who want to install their own storage, ram, and os; (limited hardware warranty); 2) full pricing for complete units with their software suite and full warranty support. Most customers would go with full retail packages once the software is finished. The hobbyists would buy the bare bones units starting NOW, I’d venture, and probably aid Ugreen with debugging hardware and firmware niggles before a full retail launch. Seems like a win for Ugreen, unlike their stupid kickstarter.
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“That’s what my therapist says”
LOL That explains a lot :o)
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Great… Put your data on a pure Chinese NAS…. what can go wrong ????????????????
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You based in the UK?
I ask because there is a lot of reviews of things we cant get here in the UK or have limited access to such as no shipping from this particular kickstarter. Why support the brands that don’t a support your entire audience that ultimately support you? Disappointment in both UGREEN here and sadly a little bit with yourself although i appreciate why you’d cover it. At Kickstarter pricing it looks to be worth it, especially if you can stick your own OS on there. At retail with the shambles of an OS to work around, just no.
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Hm, these are really attractively priced right now. I’m torn between one of these or the synology I’ve been looking at for a while.
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I checked preoder page and price is similar to existing nases. Yes it hase more upgradability and potential abilities, byt its still not finished. I will not pay, at a “discount”, as well as for an existing product for something that I do not even know how it will turn out.
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I don’t get why UGREEN tries to create it’s own shitty NAS OS, they could just ship them with truenas.
Would cost them less money and software would be so much better.
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Can you do an iperf3 to test the network speed of the 10GBe connection? Please? ????????
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It rubs really wrong that I’m locked out of 40% discount.
I live in Asia and the discounted price is really good value, plus the hardware design looks modern unlike some NAS.
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I think I understand UGREENs strategy and reasoning.
– Choosing Kickstarter for checking how high the interest in the product is because it’s a very well known name. My guess is that they didn’t fully realise that that is not Kickstarters main use. Probably because their from China.
– Only starting with 2 regions (the USA and Germany) as essentially beta testers of the hardware and software. If anything goes horribly wrong there are not that many units they have to take care of.
– Launching all these different products at the same time is also probably because they want all of them tested on.
– And the 40% discount if for exactly that. As a compensation for buying a not fully finished experience and essentially helping out with finding the leftover bugs.
– Probably chose Germany because it’s in the center of Europe and they can then utilize that when they fully release it to the other markets. And as a German myself I think we do tend to overanalyze and give a lot of feedback. So they probably wanted that.
All in all I think their plan is actually pretty solid. But some miscommunication internally and externally led to quite a lot of confusion.
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I actually only found out AFTER “buying” the NAS that they only ship to US and Germany. Good that I live in Germany. But I find it really random. Didn’t expect Germany to be so high up on the ladder
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The crowd-funding scam should be stopped by legislation somehow; the Chinese, in many forms, now abuse this to take people’s money upfront to use to pay for tooling costs and marketing. I’d never back this, and the spirit should be for startups, and only then should be a token amount to judge market potential. a NAS is not a new product to the market it’s a well established device. I woulnd’t touch their NAS if was given free I woulnd’t trust their OS Chinese software typically is shite. I really like Ugreen cables and some of their small accessories, they competed against ANKER both trying to landgrab every market segment as they can. Many of their products are not made by themselves but from others and badged up as own brand. This is common practice no company no matter how big can’t make everything! I wish them luck they will need it.
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CWWK 7840 follow up when?
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Awesome YT channel ???? Nice videos on UGreen NASes.
Kindest regards, neighbours and friends.
P.S. Bad price for NAS hardware if locked; good only if unlocked.
P.P.S. UG-OS and its apps not widely seen in the wild long enough to uncover vulnerabilities via pen testing are scary.
P.P.P.S. Whereas UGreen NASes have been on the market for some time already (including on aliexpress right now for full retail price) but not here in the West. These are not “made-from-scratch a.k.a. clean slate” O/S and hardware builds.
P.P.P.P.S. It matters not about the established branding of UGreen; other diligence is needed. Their branding is Ok for code-free products like their USB cables, GAN chargers, docking stations, etc.
P.P.P.P.P.S. A kickstarter alone unlikely funds BIOS security updates (e.g. spectre, meltdown, logoFail as past examples). More generally, purchasers tend to overlook this requirement when buying cheap, off-brand PCs, laptops, SFF-USFF thin clients/mini PCs, motherboards . . . and NASes.
P.P.P.P.P.P.S. Is this kickstarter really *a fire sale in disguise of unsold overstock of UGreen NASes previously retailed unsuccessfully in places other than the West?* Down the road, I shall be delighted if UGreen turns out to be a long-term player in NASes.
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Which NAS would you guys recommend for photos and videos only? That’s all I want to use it for. Ugreen or any other company.
Thanks
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I am a video editor. Which SSD’s would you suggest adding to this?
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Will only buy if it does Plex with transcoding. Trying to consolidate and move away from wifes old gaming PC. An all in one purpose built media server that runs PLEX server and its data is IDEAL. So surprised theres no app for it out the gate.
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Totally agree with everything, love your passion on the matter btw.
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I need 3rd party os support. Ugreen is Chinese and I’m not trusting their operating system with my personal stuff. Look at anker with their security camera stuff. These companies are untrustworthy.
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The Brits don’t deserve good nas.
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aChair Leg was able to load another OS successfully onto this NAS, not sure if you’d want to check out his video and see if his steps were any different to yours – they did Pop! OS, but I still really want to see how TrueNAS or unRaid work on this
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5:32 Priceless ???? I completely agree that UGREEN trying to prevent installing other OSes on their box are shooting themselves in the foot. It’s simple, UGREEN: don’t support, but also don’t interfere. It’s interesting though that you @nascompares were not able to run any other OS successfully on the device. aChair Leg (PopOS) and TwoGuyzTech reported that it was possible. The key is to disable the Watchdog in the BIOS completely. I’ve seen Watchdog screen in your video, but I’m not sure whether you tried to disable it. To get to the BIOS (which you did) aChair Leg removed the original SSD from the slot and TwoGuyzTech renamed the EFI folder to sth different, that the UEFI BIOS will not automatically try to boot from.
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with all our complaint, these guys have hit $3M in 24hours over their asking $20K… are they gonna listen now or its just “take my money already” crowd will be fine with whatever? lol
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They should’ve sold the thing without the software.
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I tried backing this and realised I can’t from the UK 🙁
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I agree it is very weird the way this is going. The Ugreen DX4600 has been in retail in China for over a year now, and the DX4600Pro has been for 5 months. That means they absolutely have market analytics and they are not developing their OS from the ground up. Why pretend?
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A very stressful video
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Thank you for being an advocate for the 3rd party OS support . Hopefully enough push from the community will make them reconsider their stance and allow anything to be installed easily.
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Wow, thank you for the extensive test. But if 3rd party software doesn’t work this a 100% total no go.
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Isn’t this a Chinese ripoff of Synology? No third-party OS – bacause it prevents Chinese snooping?
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Fuck it. I ordered the 8 bay for $899. In 2019 I bought my DS918+ for $547.99, so hardware wise the 8 bay is a steal at that price. I’ll probably end up flashing TrueNAS Scale or UnRAID on it anyway, but I’m planning to just sit on the hardware for a while until I can get good prices on the large capacity Iron Wolf Pro drives in different batches, so they may have the software sorted out by then. It’s absolutely unusable to me without Docker.
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Unlike Synology you can’t set it up to have the option to upgrade the size of some hard drives. Game changer!
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If they allowed 3rd party OS or if it was possible, I would buy it. But since this is not possible, I am gonna wait a bit longer.
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I am happy you say something. I might be able to reach them over skype, if I still have their contact. I suggested a external hdd 3.5″ enclosure few years ago that can use more then 1 drive. It seems they went from usb hdd enclosure wirh 2 hdd to making a full fledged NAS.
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If I buy it, it is for use with Ubuntu. No other NAS allows it
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Unable to purchase and get a discount because of region, unable to jailbreak, and half baked OS. This product is dead to me. I don’t even care if it’s a beta. Why would any company expose themselves with negative user experience due to the only half baked OS on this product? Typical CN marketing. It looks like Jonsbo will do for our next build.
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I love the hardware but locking my data in a proprietary only OS system is a hard no for me. There will be widely available standalone nas boards with 10gbe soon enough.
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Disappointingly, Ugreen is shipping to Germany and the US only
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The aesthetic, power, form factor, and hardware choices are fantastic. If they allowed 3rd party operating systems even if it did void the warranty, it would still be worth it to me as a cheap simple yet pleasing solution to pair with my Synology.
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I would be after a 10 bay and until those become standard i will keep making my own. I do own 2x 8 bay synology. 1x12bay rack qnap, 20xbay custom unraid NAS.
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The 2 or 4 bay N100 version would’ve probably been perfect for me. Great looking and compact design, just the right hardware (1 m.2 for cache, 1 m.2 for Coral TPU and 2-4 drives for array/parity – and the Intel N100 is probably plenty powerfull enough (it can handle many IP-camera’s for Frigate)) and for that price! But no shipping to the Netherlands, lackluster 3rd-parth OS support (I don’t want my NAS that I want to do all the things with, run some first attempt OS) and questionable power use/efficiency (I’ve seen Intel i3/i5 systems use less power in idle than a lot of N100 based systems using the well known (BIOS) settings etc.)
I’m probably going to build my own system with i3; compared to this basically none of the mentioned drawbacks, apart from design (not many similar nice looking, compact and somewhat affordable cases available here) and price (those Ugreen N100 versions are REALLY cheap!)
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Thanks for the update. I’m cancelling my early bird payment and buying Synology sd1821+.
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A big put off for me is the first party OS only. UGREEN is not known as a software developer. Would love to watch a follow up review video if UGREEN makes some significant updates during the crowd funding campaign!
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Welp, let’s do this rodeo one more time after the Storaxa debacle. I’m in for the 6-bay option. Got most of my money back after filing claims, so at least at ease a bit more to be hurt again if this fails lol. Though seeing as you have multiple units on hand, this is leaps and bounds well beyond what Storaxa could even make up and lie about at this point considering we have reviews before the campaign started.
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We can’t rely on them being an established brand AND launch stuff via crowd funding. I wouldnt be trusting my valuable data to crowd funding. Either you’re in and invested in a full solution or not.
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I got a fashtor 6 and I’m really liking it.
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Thanks for this video. You convinced me not to buy it via crowd funding. Even with the discounts it is too expensive to not be the NAS I want it to be. Not supporting third party OS is a big problem for me given my other options.
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I really want that hardware but not to lose my warranty if I put truenas on it .. i’d probably end up turning the watchdog off in the bios, replacing the SSD with a new one to preserve the original OS, putting truenas on a new one. But I don’t want to support a company that would do that either. Others have gotten truenas to work. (Not this model) Thank you as always for giving us a open honest review and opinion. I will wait to see what else comes out.
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I really really want to love the system but not having availability in my country or at leat know that I can’t have the discount really just beaks my desire to try it out. For the full price, there are many options and tbh the maturity versus qnap or synology is a very steong point against but I can’t really justify to just tey it when the 40%+ discount is never going to be available for me..
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Being in the UK, I am sort of pleased that we cannot join the crowdfund, so I am not to tempted to try and get the low price.
There is no reason that this needs to be crowdfunded, Ugreen has the funding to develop the software and design the hardware already. What they should have done is got the software sorted with the prototype units for review and perhaps taken pre-orders based on the reviews of the final product instead. They are probably scared about being stuck with all these devices unsold.
And is it really that much cheaper (full price) than the existing competition which has known working software and a history of updating it? Why would I risk my data to an unknown? I know it’s not your backup but it is your main source locally and if it’s flaky you are still screwed.
It has 10gig networking, but I expect most people buying the smaller units don’t have 10gig right now so would need to by new cards to make use of it (£70-100 per PC? + switches).
Finally, regarding the chargebacks, the last crowdfunding I did was the CoolerMaster Pi4 case which they screwed up by making the pinouts reversed on the final product. Tried to get a refund via KickStarter, they argued that as the product was delivered there was no reason for a refund, then went to AMEX and they said the same thing. So don’t rely on the chargeback option Ugreen could release a useless product and if they deliver you are stuck with it.
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I wonder if the reason they are so adamant about their OS is because they plan to introduce subscription services like everyone else on earth.
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Kickstarter is at 2.5 million so looks like they hit the target lol. With 44 days left I hope they will have enough built to fulfill the first orders.
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You are awesome man! I love the reference to Dodge Ball!!!!!! “I am SHOCKED, Cotton!” You helped me a lot to decide on a NAS. Thank you!
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I would probably got one if it wasn’t limited to US and Germany but oh well
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At least in the US, the Magnuson Moss laws state that the manufacturer has to prove that what was changed harmed the hardware, the fact that they’re stating they won’t cover hardware if you install a 3rd party config is just asinine. Any potential hardware failures would come from overheating a component, which is likely protected by the bios. This is a hard pass, and their lack of willingness to listen to community feedback just goes to show that. You can add to that the fact they are pushing these things out to channels for review, I mean, WTAF is wrong with them. The corporate speak instead of actual answers from your interview with the product manager again is a non starter for me.
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The specs on the Kickstarter indicate there is an “x4” PCIe expansion slot.
Has UGREEN confirmed that this a PCIe 4.0×4 slot? Or is it PCIe 3.0×4. Either is great to see, but UGREEN failed to specify. -_-
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Great video. I agree with all your points and have the same vibe. I’m into this, but at the same time, it’s so frustrating.
Glad to see they’re not voiding the hardware warranty for using a 3rd party OS. Though, I’d really like to see more clarification on how they decide that a 3rd party OS has damaged the unit, as that might not be covered, versus a covered hardware failure.
This still needs to be clarified a bit further, I think.
And really, if installing a third party OS isn’t going to void the hardware warranty, they should make it as trivial as possible. Pull out all the BIOS watchdog stuff or put up a help doc on exactly how ti disable it. No regular user is going to be calling Ugreen for help after accidentally installing TrueNAS. That … just can’t happen.
Given how much the EU/EC has been in the news this week going after Apple and others for alleged anti-consumer behavior, I’m a bit surprised to see Ugreen being this cagey while launching in *Germany*.
I’ve got ZFS backing TrueNAS and Proxmox here, across … 4 servers. Since the Ugreen OS doesn’t support ZFS, I can’t use it as a replication destination for backups, which is a big functional reason I want to put TrueNAS on it.
The startling immaturity of the OS (including, hugely, not being able to saturate a 10Gbps NIC with that many drives), well … I feel like we’re being asked to spend a ton of money to partake in an en masse semi-public beta. If they want to lock users into their software, it should at least be feature complete on launch, and it’s hard to imagine they’re going to get it there when their team of 200 engineers apparently still hasn’t managed to fully localize the OS (hello, random Chinese text in the settings menus; I guess you’re supposed to have Google’s camera translator on your phone active when you set things up).
All that said, I backed it. We need hardware like this on the market. Asustor and Terramaster are still pushing Celeron N5105s at this tier, and even TrueNAS Minis are starting to show their age w/r/t expandability and features vs. cost.
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Can you add a GPU to any of these?
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The biggest thing for me is like Synology SHR raid. The ability to mix and match hard drives is important for me. I hope it’s released when the product is released.
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I want this campaign to do well, then buy one second hand in a couple of years once the software is polished off and they’ve depreciated a bit.
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Only folks from Germany and US are able to order this NAS at this moment. ????
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Robbie – Try decaf. LOL.
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The moment i realized that i didn’t put the play speed to 2x ….and you were talking so fast….
But u want to thank❤ you so much for all your Nas compares Videos!????
I watched so many in the last weeks (because of thinking to buy a new one) and i learned a lot and had some great AHA Moments. You explain everything very well and it’s fun to watch them???????? thx for all your efforts.
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Honestly I am not worried about 3rd party OS… the more they’ll try to lock it the more community will try to hack it… they may learn the hard lesson like Sony and others… and no one would even look back at their OS
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Why are so many YouTube creators “reviewing” UGREEN products that are nowhere near ready use?? This about the 10th UN-REVIES I’ve seen in 2 days. Thumbs down.
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They just made 1.5 million dollars on kickstarter in 2 hours.
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I was going to purchase one of these. After seeing your initial impressions, I was hoping for it to be more energy efficient, but I can get over that. The irony of it not being energy efficient with the name Ugreen. Lol When I heard the interview with Ugreen I thought, it’s pretty lame to void the warranty if I used Unraid, but if the hardware was good and inexpensive, I could risk it. Now, after seeing they are blocking the use of it altogether. No thanks! I will just build my next one. Thanks for the thorough coverage of this release. I was initially excited about this one, but Ugreen dropped the ball…
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Love it when you lose it! 🙂
I think all your points are valid. UGREEN is NOT an idie title, them going crowdfunding is weird …
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Great that they might chase Synology to make a follow up on the DS 1522, with at least a 2.5 GBit ethernet, able to expand to 10 GBitE or more. Ugreen might be good, but I am a bit sceptical about the security and stability, so I think I will wait a bit longer to replace my ds 918. I think I would miss SHR as well. Hope for better competition in those fields.
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Ugreen is cutting the price because they are funded with kickstarter money?
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I kickstarted two 6 bays from them. Here is the bottom line on this product that will define this as a success or failure. This thing has to come out the gate with the option to support all other OS platforms. Esp TrueNas and Unraid.
And let’s be clear, if they burn thousands of customers who spent hundreds and it will have ripple effects this company will never get over. They have never done software and compute like this, so getting it wrong will send this company in the wrong direction they are trying to go.
If they release a half baked platform and OS, they will never ever be trusted as a NAS company.
If however they support 3rd party, while building there own NAS OS, they stand a chance at competing with the likes of Synology and QNAP down the line. But seeing the reviews as I have, there is zero way I could tell a first time NAS buyer to buy from this company.
I am hopeful they will agree to allow Unraid. If they dont agree before I can cancel, then I will.
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I already hate this product because of Ugreen launch policy, a NOGO for me . Thank you for the great review
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Please more coverage on this. Just ordered the 8 bay nas
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Is that Jonathan Pryce singing ?
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THANKS for your Review and Just FYI…. YouTube UNSUBCRIBED me from your Channel….. AGAIN! But Thanks for the Review!!! Because I was really considering a 6bay as an upgrade to my DS920+. But you HIT the Major Parts that matter to me, the speed…. but what you didn’t hit and I WANT TO KNOW…. Can I expand this device as easy as I can Synology by just placing larger drives in it?
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before I thought they simply don’t support 3rd party software – but now, seeing that it simply does NOT work – no no no
even Asashee linux works on macbooks…
no, never – end of story
I hate such greedy companise that lock you completely
please don’t forget – they till now did NOT exist in this market – a company from China – will everybody trust them with their CLOSED software and hardware? hmm
and if costs 250 – ok but it costs 2x or 3x that
no thank you but no
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My only wish , their software is better then Qnap Security .
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no 3rd party, no chance, for me.
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Well lets hope that their os is better than the constantly wobbly terramaster offering… i got rid of that after 4 failed updates in two years blitzed my data and mot having a degree in linux didnt help..
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Thanks a lot for the content! Pledged, and will follow reviews and worst case will cancel my pledge again.
Something to consider for other peeps as well: You don’t get charged until ~10th may and can cancel no questions asked before that
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awesome video. you’re right – they *SHOULD* have sent a more refined product to reviewers. the hardware not performing to spec as well as UGREEN’s lack of 3rd party OS’s being ABLE to be used is a complete show stopper for me. (i don’t care about the warranty. i don’t care about crowdfunding.) i understand they *MAY* allow 3rd party OS’s in the future, i understand they *MAY* get the hardware preforming as advertised, but as of now, as of the product they have today… I’M OUT. too bad, seemed like a good option.
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Just saw this, and will watch other reviews. Just a question in case you may know.. I live in the US. I have a QNP Nas I LOVE and use it for work. I am looking for a surveillance system for this home I recently bought (and work out of). many standalone camera systems are great, but, interfaces are wonky, and they don’t NEARLY have the processing / memory of something like a NAS. I just don’t want to burden my QNAP with wired camera streams, and so I was looking for a 2-Bay NAS to basically use as a Surveillance system. Do you know if this handles ONVIF cameras I can use? Have you looked at that aspect of the software? Seems like it has great processing power to be a dedicated surveillance system ONLY (as I am looking for) – many standalone systems have bragged they can handle multiple (like 6) 4k streams, and yet, actual reviews are mixed. That’s why I thought about just buying and dedicating a NAS ONLY for that purpose, and this sounds like it COULD be the one. What would you say?
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I wouldn’t even consider this unless it was SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than synology. Synology software is magical.
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Probably more eloquently stated by others, but I have to say that the OG NAS companies were churning out under-powered (3 generation old CELERONS) in some expensive products. Suddenly, some new challengers are coming in with products based on much more modern and capable hardware, and the OG teams are going to have to respond in kind. It is nice to see that new NAS options will be based on something with more modern hardware, better upgrade options, and active competitors to keep them all from just resting on their laurels.
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Blocking 3rd party while don’t have a fully developed by themselves…. No thank you.
I was willing to sell my qnap tvs-tvs1288x for it.
Ugreen you guys can keep those ones for you guys.
Maybe ugreen will look they charges to use only ugreen cables lol.
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LMAO. “5 things that f*** me right off about them”, i died.
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Why the hell does not anybody hardware brands out there make a system for 3’rd party OS? Of course you can build a system from ground up , but many, like me, only want to add disks and memory and from there choose OS. Why not NUC for NAS???
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I just started syncing the drives in my uGreen. Although the software is clearly early stage, it does seem very promising, given that it doesn’t seem That far behind ADM, which has been in development for Much longer, and as you’ve said, the hardware is Ready … just the software needs a lot more work to match that hardware. Fingers crossed!
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I was debating on the four bay plus versus the six bay pro. I decided to back the six bay pro due to the connectivity of thunderbolt four. The software looks much more refined than the western digital EX4100 I have been using for the last 8+ years. It’s time to replace it, and I was thinking about the Synology however, the lack of M.2 support concerns me. Would you suggest Seagate iron Wolf or WD red drives to populate this?
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Did I understand correctly that even after disabling the watch dog in the bios and everything it still kicks you out of 3rd party operating systems? You haven’t found a way to make it run permanently?
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My primary use case is just for picture and document back ups. Does this allow for cell phone picture back ups from the phone and google photos back up. Love all the reviews but to a new NAS potential user its so confusing….
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0:02: ⚡️ Exploring the strengths and weaknesses of the UGREEN NAS system.
4:12: ???? Established brand UGREEN offers affordable network-attached storage solution with potential.
7:29: ⚠️ Limiting third-party OS options may hinder user engagement and customization potential.
10:17: ⚙️ Challenges in achieving full 10g connection speed due to software limitations and potential hardware bottlenecks.
13:29: ???? Innovative hardware with limited software capabilities and crowdfunding launch concerns.
Timestamps by Tammy AI
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I really have no idea what to do lol! I’ve never owned a NAS but I want to buy one but this UGreen thing just seems way to what ifs for me but i don’t want to miss a good price for this thing either! Just not sure what route to take!
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Please ensure that the Thunderbolt standard is FULLY supported by Ugreen????????????????
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Am I the only one who appreciates John Philip Sousa Semper Fidelis cut music? No one else? Maybe because it appeals to our rebellious past????
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I really had to laugh at how fast you were talking and I couldn’t keep up :D. So thanks again for your videos. I’m still wavering between the DXP4800 Plus and the DXP480T Plus. If this really happens that you can put 3rd party software like Unraid or Truenas on it without voiding the warranty then I think it’s a deal breaker for Synology and Qnap. 😀
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Would this be a good option for someone who wants to use Virtual Machines?
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The hardware specs vs Synology NAS. I am going buy the UGREEN as a backup to the backup. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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UGreen can can go F themselves if they deny third party OS… Do you guys think you are effing Apple?
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The 4 bay would definitely somethin I would go for.. BUT I live in NL.. BUT it’s a kickstarter (you could loose your money)… BUT no 3rd party OS.. (and that’s a big one for me)
So 3 reasons not to go for this NAS.. Sorry Ugreen ????
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Since here are a lot more based facts than on other channels – I got a few questions, that got lost in various threads.
1. On the 2 bay model. Since it just has a single 2.5GbE and 2 SATA bays, got the pcie lanes get appropriately repurposed? I’d hope that each m2 gets 2 lanes then.
2. Also on the n100 models – is the eMMC soldered?
3. Power Consumption – it’s a mess. Nobody talked about c states or even tried to minimize the consumption. How low can it get ?
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Hot off my email box… “$1 Million Achieved in Just 38 Minutes!” Yikes, they better deliver or the backlash will be just as hard.
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Why doesn’t someone build something like this that can support any OS. isn’t there anything on the market like this. I’d pay for that.
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I think UGreen does not understand NAS – and selling millions of chargers and cables doesn’t get you any closer. A NAS is used to store data so that it absolutely positively stays protected. Everything else is gravy. Sending out even a review unit that does not support 2FA and immutable snapshots makes it abundantly clear these guys don’t understand this market. Are you willing to bet your $500+ that they will figure it out?
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No 3rd party OS=No sale. YMMW Seriously if I want a locked down NAS I would buy a Synology! I already have an old QNAP with OMV 6 on it and I want to buy a new NAS that I can also install OMV on it. UGREEN if you do not want my money I can give it to another NAS supplier, I just like your hardware.
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Just release a SDK and let the community help, they will have more apps than Synology in no time.
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$1.3 M in 45 minutes with 2,500 backers thus far. Not to shabby????????
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Would you be so kind to clarify if you got Unraid working and only Proxmox was being problematic or are both affected by reboots? I’m not a native English speaker (German) and unsure about that sentence at 6:50 😀
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Wish Qnap have same mobile app
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i was about to pledge the 5 bucks but I’m neither from US or Germany .. and no 3rd party OSs for now, I’ll keep the Terramaster for a while longer
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I am so surprised you did not hammer on the storage device only TB connection. Especially on the All Flash device – I mean what is the point of Flash performance hampered by a single 10GbE speed (and a bottlenecked 10GbE at that). Never mind the unnamed WiFi version (6, 6E, dare we hope 7?). Net net here you get all of the costs and downsides of Flash with none of the performance upside.
Having TB4 hardware without supporting Client connect is the poster child for not thinking the design through, and I’m afraid may signal a lot more less obvious design and software blunders.
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Excellent, excellent, excellent video! And btw, I love seagulls ????
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I can understand the decision to keep it US and Germany only in terms of return logistics, but I still think it’s a shame they didn’t offer it to the rest of the EU at least. It would add to the logistics challanges, but not a lot. afaik there aren’t any outliers in the EU where postage is suddenly a million dollars and the customs is straight forward if you ship from the EU to the EU.
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Yeah, great potential! I’m really got my fingers crossed they’ll make it coz there’s new NASes look and feel very premium, but needs slightly more love on the software side 🙂
I’m gonna a be late with my vid, coz only shot it today 🙂
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les gooo
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In what scenario would you recommend the DXP6800 Pro over the DXP4800 Plus? Storage capacity is not the issue; I’m primarily split between the CPU performance of the Intel Pentium Gold 8505 and the i5-1235U. What capabilities or programs would require the increased CPU performance?
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Let me clarify the crowd funding and limited availability. It’s because of greed. They can gauge the response to the product in limited markets, with a substantial discount, then MILK THE REST OF THE WORLD AND THE FULL LAUNCH FOR EVERY PENNY THEY CAN GET. When this fully launches, it will be a high-end device as the competitors sell early 2000 hardware their products and have become lazy.
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The Kickstarter campaign started 40 minutes ago has already surpassed $1M and 2,000 backers. I think Ugreen NAS will be an outstanding platform because of the community and experts like you providing the developers a ton of feedback.
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12:59 I can see the purpose of doing a region limited beta (especially for concentration of tech support) considering that the software is still far more dough than cookies at this point (even though it still sucks). There’s expectations that a crowdfunding product is rarely feature complete (much less has all the major kinks worked out) when it ships and thus is priced accordingly compared to when that product is launched at retail.
I hope that they eventually decide on not only opening up support for thirds party OSes, but when these units hit eventually hit EOL they open source the firmware Coreboot/Libreboot style.
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I’ve been a beta tester since mid February. They sent me a unit to beta test the software, specifically to report bugs and help them to develop the OS. It definitely needs more time in the oven. I agree with all of your other videos; there is definitely potential. But right now, you are essentially buying into a beta platform where a lot of the fundamentals are broken. I will say though that I also have access to the mobile app, and I think it’s the best way to interact with the NAS.
My main NAS is a DS920+, so my standards are quite high. But I also understand that most people don’t need all of Synology’s bells and whistles. That’s why I want this to succeed. But right now, I cannot in good conscience suggest that people buy this unless they want to flash a 3rd party OS, or they’re okay with paying to participate in a beta in exchange for a discount. Things have improved, but just barely. I don’t think first-time NAS buyers should be buying this, especially (right now).
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I cant seem to get an answer. I am new to kickstarter. Will the NAS’s sold during the kickstarter event be the full retail version or some early prototype?
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well said.
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So conflicted on whether or not to back the NAS. I am really tempted to either get the DXP4800 Plus or the DXP6800 Pro as my NAS/Plex server, but without proper answer on whether or not Ugreen will support third party OS and with its immature OS I am just uncomfortable dropping that money for a first NAS
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This launch was wild. The UGREEN folks promised that if you give them a $5 deposit, you’d get a 40% discount. In some places they even clearly stated that this would be a discount on top of the 40% early bird price. Now it turns out that the $5 deposit was essentially a ruse, and the price on Kickstarter is the same for everyone.
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was going to place an order but no UK options. ballz
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You tried third party OS’s but didn’t try your hardest to side load plex?
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I absolutely hate that the UK is excluded from the 40% off ????.
I’d cover shipping and taxes and they shipped you one so I don’t get the issue
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*Update on the use of 3rd Party OS* on UGREEN NAS with hardware, with regard to warranty*: “The Ugreen team confirms that whatever is promised in their warranty policy will not change, which only covers the hardware. They also mention that there is a risk of damage if you install a third-party OS, including data loss and compatibility issues, etc.” – Ugreen Representative, 26/3/24
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