November 15, 2010 10:50 PM

I haven't been able to articulate my discomfort in using this device that last week or so, but I've got that nasty early feeling that my early frustration is going to eventually send me here.

High concept; low execution.

What I know so far is that yes, it only took a few minutes to "set up." Then it took ages to load the files. Then it proved unusable at home to access those files -- way slower than just having my drive connected directly. So I'm waiting to really test it during my next away game. And fearful of the outcome.

Thad McIlroy www.thefutureofpublishing.com

November 16, 2010 11:21 AM

Ranger198 said: I really wanted Pogoplug to work.  I think it's a great concept, and although I have the ability to build and setup a LAMP server, I liked the idea of not having a monthly fee to pay for a domain name and the possible ease of usability for less savy family members. Here are my issues? 1) Streaming movies?  Doesn't work. I've re-ripped a good number of my dvds using handbrake (my preferred method anyhow), making sure to check the "enable web streaming" box. I've even let pogoplug attempt to process them, even though it shouldn't be necessary. At the end of the day, the files won't stream or for that matter download to an android phone, a linux desktop, or a macbook. 2) Cloud based audio files?  The interface is extremely cumbersome to use, and although pogoplug is a linux device, it won't recognize any open source formats (such as .ogg) so I had to convert all my music back to mp3 to put it on to the pogoplug.  It's really not an audio streaming device though, it's more of a file repository for audio files.  Album artwork is not supported and you can only look at a few items at a time. 3) Photos? The demonstration video makes it look pretty quick and sexy, but I'm nowhere near that level of performance or appearance.  It's almost as if all the demo videos are being run on something other than a pogoplug.  The reality is nothing close to the browsability or speed demonstrated. 4) Documents/other files? I uploaded some technical publications I had to see if it would be feasible to leave them in a cloud rather than carry them around physically or digitally.  Also a fail. Pogoplug insists on reformatting them into a "web friendly" format, which strangely does not resemble any other formats out there, pdf through kindle.  It appears to be a web format unto itself. 5) The pogoplug pro supposedly has wireless capability.  I remember seeing the option during initial setup, but haven't seen it since despite efforts, which reminds me... 6) There is now way to return your pogoplug to it's base settings/reload the firmware. You know, kind of like when things get a little screwy on some other piece of hardware and you decide to start over and redo the whole thing based on lessons learned?  Not possible with the pogoplug.  You're beholden to what's there, or not. Again, I wanted this to work. Think it's a great concept, but can't help feeling that it's been sold as something it's not, and is definitely not ready for prime time, even among advanced users. So maybe I've already answered my own question... I think I am just going to return it, unless someone can really convince me not to?

1) what's the speed of your internet connection? Also, what's the speed of your Android's connection?

2) i'd prefer more formats as well (and a better UI for music, shuffling, etc.), but album art works fine if indexed.

3) my photos are pretty quick (once indexed), but again, this may depend on speeds.

4) i'll agree it's annoying that it "converts" pdfs and what not, but you could always just download the file onto whatever system you're using.

5) can't say, don't have the pro.

6) pretty sure you can delete the ceid file (or maybe the folder, search for which), which essentially undoes the settings for that drive.

November 30, 2010 1:49 AM

Agreed on most points here. From everything I've seen the PogoPlug team are well-meaning and all, but I paid $80+ for this product, and because I bought it through Amazon and set it all up I can't realistically return it. I now actually leave it unplugged since I never use it and I don't want to bother with noise from a machine in disuse.

I was highly dissatisfied with the fact that it didn't support my new 3 TB Seagate external drive, which I store EVERYTHING on. This should be made clear in some kind of product description as end-user storage devices become larger and larger. This all meant I had to do an all day USB transfer of data from my 3 TB to my old 1 TB, then plug it in only to realize the files I wanted to access--music files (via iTunes etc.), videos, pictures etc.--were not as "streamable" as the marketing suggested. I find the online GUI clunky, highly limited, and I find many basic options to be inaccessible to all but highly knowledgeable users, who even then can't master things they thought would be easy.

Really--can streaming diverse formats/codecs of music and videos, or accommodating a 3 TB drive, be too obscure for the Pogo team to have put all their manpower into yet?

The good news for PogoPlug is that, while I am utterly disappointed by this brilliantly-conceived-and-poorly-executed product, I will happily buy another when they can reliably support 3 TB drives, and when I can reliably stream my iTunes and video libraries instead of downloading all my files. Until then, like Ranger said, Pogo seems to be a clunky file repository.

December 9, 2010 7:11 PM

I have all the same problems you guys do. I reached out to support directly so I'll see what they come back with. If it doesn't work the CEO of cloud engines will get my device back, and a letter and a request for a refund.

December 19, 2010 10:36 AM

Rock said: Everything works for me. I am able to stream videos over my network and to my computer over the internet and everything works great. Videos play well and i am able to share them with friends. I can even stream them to my itouch which also works great and sometime better than using my netbook. As for music files i just use the drive software and them import them into itunes. I use itunes to play all my audio files and it works just as if they were actually on my hard drive. As for documents the pogoplug does convert them into a very crappy version, but if i need them i just download them and in two seconds i can view the original file, unchanged. As for photos, they work great too. Able to open and view them as if they were on my hard drive as well. And once again the best part about the pogoplug is that i can share any of this with anyone in the world. I had a few problems when i first started using the pogoplug, but sense then i have figured it all out and it is the best device out there.

What format are all your videos in on your hard drive?