Seagate Debuts GoFlex Home As Centralized Storage For The Household

On the heels of its new GoFlex family of hard drives, Seagate (News - Alert) has unwrapped new additions to this line of products, the GoFlex Home network storage system. When this easy-to-use device is connected to a wireless router, an entire household can centrally store, easily access and continuously back up files wirelessly from both Windows and Mac OS X operating systems on the home network. That means, the central storage system is accessible to both PC and Mac computers.

According to Seagate, the new centralized storage system simplifies the backup process by being compatible with Apple’s (News - Alert) Time Machine, as well as including a version of the backup application for both Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. With the GoFlex Home storage system, families can also wirelessly stream photos, movies and music to most network connected DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) devices, such as game consoles or a GoFlex TV HD media player, from any room in the house, said the maker. As of May 2010, more than 7,000 different devices had obtained DLNA certified status, indicated by a logo on their packaging and confirming their interoperability with other DLNA devices, claims the DLNA alliance

As per Seagate, the device can be up and running in minutes with just two cable connections and a simple (illustrated) step-by-step installation tool. The GoFlex Home system is architected to solve the household storage puzzle in a snap, claimed Seagate. It includes software to automatically and continuously back up all the files and folders on up to three PC and Mac computers in the home, as per the product data sheet.

Mounted in a dock, which links via Ethernet to a wireless Wi-Fi router, the GoFlex Home comes in models of 1 Terabyte (TB) and 2 TB capacities. However, its modular design permits the user to upgrade to higher storage capacity by removing the drive from the base and replacing it with a higher capacity GoFlex Desk hard drive, or by connecting an external drive via its USB port. This same USB port can be used to attach a printer for sharing on the wireless network at home. Seagate said that the 1 TB version of GoFlex Home network storage system will retail for $159.99, while the 2 TB version will go for  $229.99.