I had a 1TB WD MyCloud like this unit for years. I'm on my 2nd Synology NAS now. This is basically the Synology Drive/Photos apps without the NAS. Nice and simple.
I think this would be an awesome product for less technical people, my only add would be to add the ability to back up the beestation to a Synology Diskstation. Like from my parents house to my house. Great video.
Even as a 3-unit synology user, I find this interesting. It would be good for other members of the family not so technology-friendly, for them to manage their own backups without my help. Great review Lon, many thanks
This is something I have a use for. To share files with family, to remotely access my files, to share files with art galleries where I'll be showing at, using it to stream audio, video, image files. Having up to 8 people to do that with is fine for my purposes. I've finally come around to wanting to use one of these things for that purpose. But a 4 TB HDD won't be enough capacity for me. So seeing the teardown and upgrade methods for swapping the drive it ships with to a larger 18 or 20 TB drive is useful to me.
@@LonSeidmanWell, it ships with a single 4 TB HDD. It would be helpful to see how to add a higher capacity drive. Then see how it takes effect afterward. If anything, it can bring in more views to this video. Perhaps gaining some more followers.
Also if you are planning to buy this , note that the price on their website is $220 which includes shipping and sales taxes. The amazon price does not include that.
as a single disk solution you really need to look at some sort of backup for your data, the audience for this device is not likely to understand that it becomes a SPOF for all your important files.
Initial impression, 4 TB pretty small for a NAS, consumer friendly or not. Since my WD My Cloud died been looking for a replacement less expensive that a full blown Synology NAS.
FYI/imho, anyone with a Wifi router can probably get "A NAS for the General Consumer" by simply plugging in an external USB drive (HDD, SSD, flash drive). Just access the router via web browser to set up. EDIT: Transfer speeds are sufficient for me. But a newer router with USB 3 (instead of USB 2) port would definitely make it faster/ better.
@@wiziek Are you trolling ME?? I've been using this configuration for about 10 years with my Fire TV media players, and it works well. If you can't clarify your initial statement by answering my questions, then frak off.
Can you use the external USB as basically expansion to increase the 4tb internal drive. So you could access external USB files from computers on the network.
Interesting product and excellent review as always. This seems like a product that should have broad appeal. Maybe it would be worth adding a headline to the video title / thumbnail to something like: Alternative to Dropbox / Google drive ? Might get more views?
Great video on this drive as I'm seriously thinking of purchasing one. A couple of questions though if I may... 1) can I use this to back up data from another external hard drive as I don't keep data on my computer (Apple Mini Mac) & 2) can this sync data between the external HDD and the Beestation automatically making changes to any modified files? I've asked these questions of othe RUclips creators and none have responded?
Nice device! I'm sold on it after watching this video. I am curious, if I store my mp3 and mp4 content ... can I access it and watch videos with Emby or Plex? Thanks
Great video. Could you confirm that the local account is not for the additional users ( other than the admin ). I thought every user will have its account , in addition to the single admin. This got me confused. My wife has over a 400GB of photos. Do the uploads go through the internet if she is invited as an additional user.
Yeah, I can see how this would be easier for non-tech friends and family. Tech people are likely just want a network attached NAS device and use other Open Source software get the functionality they want.
If you have to setup an account will it still work if the internet is down, or is it internet dependent? And can Synology access the data stored that is stored on a Synology BeeStation connected to a LAN?
I would advice buying a regular synology nas with 2 disks. (redundancy) If you look at this feature set, it's poor and you still have to jump through alot of hoops to get the most out of it and it still relies on cloud because if synology drops support getting to your files might not work from outside anymore. My conclusion is you might as well get a real NAS. It can do exactly the same things and a hole lot more.
Consolidating all of your data on to a NAS with just a single HDD out of the box seems like an accident waiting to happen. Yes, you can back it up to an external HDD, but that seems to go against the target demographic for this device.
How about the auto backup of the photo app that backs up but then stops running and you have to close and restart the app to keep that going? I have a synology nas that has this problem and they fail to mention that apple will not allow it to continuously run the backup of photos in the background due “reasons”. If it can do that with this bee app then it’s worth it but if it’s like the current synology photos app then it’s no better. Have you tested to see if it keeps syncing the new photos as you take them? Or days on end? Or do you have to manually start it each time?
Can a plug in my external hard drives to it and will this windows program allow my plex to see them.that would perfect to allow my external hard drives have added usabity. usability. Just wondering I like the no mess and idea
Syncthing is a better solution for the tech inclined (which is probably most people watching this video) as it's open source and let's you use your own hardware. Probably more setup, but not by much.
So when u plug in an xternal hd in that beestation...u will only backup all the contents on the beestation....so which means there are no sync function when the xternal hd is plugged to the beestation.
@@LonSeidman Can u do a realtime sync in the external HD? Whenever u change some thing in the beestation it will automatically sync in with the xternal HD. coz in the demo...i think u only sched for a backup in the xternal hd
Can you backup a bee-drive with a Synology NAS? Let's say I put a beestation no my mothers iMac and remotely sync to my NAS here at my home over the Internet.
Synology is constantly releasing new products, but rarely updating and maintaining its own products, which is unsettling. Its app is rarely updated and new features are rarely added. They just want to make money, but they don't care much about how users feel.
Sync only? I hate sync. It fills up everyone's hard drive. I want a cloud or web access to a drive. To share files between remote users. Not by sync. Dropbox etc...hate them.
At the point you said 'single hard drive' it became a useless device IMHO. Especially for beginners, it should come with two drives setup to mirror each other. People will archive stuff onto this device and when the hard drive dies, which will happen, they will have lost all thier data.
I'm following Beefiles, which looks a bit like Filerun. But Beefiles is nowhere near as powerful as Filerun. Beefiles doesn't even support file thumbnails. Such an expensive price does not match the product, I will not buy it.
The cheapest NAS that I can get is 112 bucks, and the cheapest 4TB hard drive rated for NAS that I can get is 120 bucks, so I think this is not a bad value for what it is.
I had a 1TB WD MyCloud like this unit for years. I'm on my 2nd Synology NAS now.
This is basically the Synology Drive/Photos apps without the NAS. Nice and simple.
I think this would be an awesome product for less technical people, my only add would be to add the ability to back up the beestation to a Synology Diskstation. Like from my parents house to my house. Great video.
Even as a 3-unit synology user, I find this interesting.
It would be good for other members of the family not so technology-friendly, for them to manage their own backups without my help.
Great review Lon, many thanks
This is something that I can definitely use for my family! It's simple and looks easy to use without all the extra bells and whistles.
I'm not the target audience for this product, but it would be a nice present for someone like my father. Cool product!
Very detailed and well structured breakdown of the complete system.
This is something I have a use for. To share files with family, to remotely access my files, to share files with art galleries where I'll be showing at, using it to stream audio, video, image files. Having up to 8 people to do that with is fine for my purposes. I've finally come around to wanting to use one of these things for that purpose. But a 4 TB HDD won't be enough capacity for me. So seeing the teardown and upgrade methods for swapping the drive it ships with to a larger 18 or 20 TB drive is useful to me.
Lon, Thanks for posting this video.
This is a great option. Good price. Thank you.
Very well explained thumb up
Keep up the great work
Thanks for the great info! Any chance you could do a follow-up and open it up, explore DIY drive upgrades, etc?
I think if you want to go the DIY route their other NAS devices are better suited for that.
Hello there NASCompares youtube channel have a take apart video for this item.
@@LonSeidmanWell, it ships with a single 4 TB HDD. It would be helpful to see how to add a higher capacity drive. Then see how it takes effect afterward. If anything, it can bring in more views to this video. Perhaps gaining some more followers.
Also if you are planning to buy this , note that the price on their website is $220 which includes shipping and sales taxes. The amazon price does not include that.
as a single disk solution you really need to look at some sort of backup for your data, the audience for this device is not likely to understand that it becomes a SPOF for all your important files.
There is the option of connecting two more USB 3.x drives to the machine for that purpose.
Doesn't seem to be any Linux support for it. Deal breaker for me.
@@Scooter30FTW use-case for this hardware is for lazy people. You Linux users are too hardcore ! You use synology diskstatioins
Initial impression, 4 TB pretty small for a NAS, consumer friendly or not. Since my WD My Cloud died been looking for a replacement less expensive that a full blown Synology NAS.
I feel as though 8 or 10tb for ~$200-$225 is more of an appropriate ask.
4tb is plenty for normal average user.
They're probably pricing this as a better alternative to the recurring payment and storage limitations of cloud services, not external hard drives.
FYI/imho, anyone with a Wifi router can probably get "A NAS for the General Consumer" by simply plugging in an external USB drive (HDD, SSD, flash drive).
Just access the router via web browser to set up.
EDIT: Transfer speeds are sufficient for me. But a newer router with USB 3 (instead of USB 2) port would definitely make it faster/ better.
Sure, with very bad performance and just shared folders.
@@wiziek What exactly do you mean by "bad performance" ?
What else do you want with an NAS besides shared folders, and backups to them?
@@Dave--FkTheDeepstate ARe you trolling? Do you have any idea how routers cpu works and are limited despite having usb 3?
@@wiziek Are you trolling ME??
I've been using this configuration for about 10 years with my Fire TV media players, and it works well.
If you can't clarify your initial statement by answering my questions, then frak off.
Can you add videos and stream them to tv?
I wonder if it would be possible for lon to address that if possible in a future plex video.
Can you use the external USB as basically expansion to increase the 4tb internal drive. So you could access external USB files from computers on the network.
You can replace the internal hdd with a higher storage, then use the the 4tb as a backup thru hdd enclusure the connect to the usb port.
Interesting product and excellent review as always. This seems like a product that should have broad appeal. Maybe it would be worth adding a headline to the video title / thumbnail to something like: Alternative to Dropbox / Google drive ? Might get more views?
Great video on this drive as I'm seriously thinking of purchasing one. A couple of questions though if I may... 1) can I use this to back up data from another external hard drive as I don't keep data on my computer (Apple Mini Mac) & 2) can this sync data between the external HDD and the Beestation automatically making changes to any modified files? I've asked these questions of othe RUclips creators and none have responded?
This should not replace offsite cloud backup, it should be something you use as well as it.
Good video, thanks!. A question: in the Beefiles or BeePhotos iOS apps, can you play videos stored in Bee station from the same apps?
How to connect the Apple TV to storage
Nice device! I'm sold on it after watching this video. I am curious, if I store my mp3 and mp4 content ... can I access it and watch videos with Emby or Plex? Thanks
If you enabled SMB mode you could point Plex or Emby at the directory but it won't run their server apps.
Great video. Could you confirm that the local account is not for the additional users ( other than the admin ). I thought every user will have its account , in addition to the single admin. This got me confused. My wife has over a 400GB of photos. Do the uploads go through the internet if she is invited as an additional user.
Can this unit be located off site?
Yeah, I can see how this would be easier for non-tech friends and family. Tech people are likely just want a network attached NAS device and use other Open Source software get the functionality they want.
You should still backup to a cloud service in case a catastrophic event happens at your house. Like your house burns down or a tornado.
Maybe buy 2 and put one at another location?
I don't get the point unless it has at least 2 drives in RAID 1.
you'll need a data backup of your data backup...
If you have to setup an account will it still work if the internet is down, or is it internet dependent?
And can Synology access the data stored that is stored on a Synology BeeStation connected to a LAN?
Covered in the video
After syncing with Dropbox can you disconnect DropBox and keep the local files on the drive?
can I add an additional user for them to be able to backup thier phone photos separately and privately from my beephotos app?
Be nice for camera backup to keep that data off the webs.
I would advice buying a regular synology nas with 2 disks. (redundancy) If you look at this feature set, it's poor and you still have to jump through alot of hoops to get the most out of it and it still relies on cloud because if synology drops support getting to your files might not work from outside anymore. My conclusion is you might as well get a real NAS. It can do exactly the same things and a hole lot more.
❤❤❤
The website gives a different price $219.99
Consolidating all of your data on to a NAS with just a single HDD out of the box seems like an accident waiting to happen.
Yes, you can back it up to an external HDD, but that seems to go against the target demographic for this device.
I just today got in the mail a DS224+
How about the auto backup of the photo app that backs up but then stops running and you have to close and restart the app to keep that going? I have a synology nas that has this problem and they fail to mention that apple will not allow it to continuously run the backup of photos in the background due “reasons”. If it can do that with this bee app then it’s worth it but if it’s like the current synology photos app then it’s no better. Have you tested to see if it keeps syncing the new photos as you take them? Or days on end? Or do you have to manually start it each time?
I'm thinking future Costco product
Can a plug in my external hard drives to it and will this windows program allow my plex to see them.that would perfect to allow my external hard drives have added usabity. usability. Just wondering I like the no mess and idea
After setup do you still need internet? Answered at: 2:35
Syncthing is a better solution for the tech inclined (which is probably most people watching this video) as it's open source and let's you use your own hardware. Probably more setup, but not by much.
I like syncthing quite a bit!
I use the same Synology photo backup on my DS1019+. It keeps on asking me "who is this" even though the name to the face is labeled. Not impressive.
So when u plug in an xternal hd in that beestation...u will only backup all the contents on the beestation....so which means there are no sync function when the xternal hd is plugged to the beestation.
As demoed there is a backup function for external drives
@@LonSeidman Can u do a realtime sync in the external HD? Whenever u change some thing in the beestation it will automatically sync in with the xternal HD. coz in the demo...i think u only sched for a backup in the xternal hd
Can this be used as a web server?
If you have a Mac, why wouldn’t you just use an attached Time Machine drive ??
If you had music files and video files on this Beestation could you access them with a Nvidia Shield pro connected to the router.
Should be able to with ftp service
Can you use this as a Plex server?
Negative
Can't you use a router modem with a usb for hard drive to access data anywhere?
sure you can.
If you can deal with configuring your router modem to expose your USB hard drive to the internet, then BeeDrive is not for you.
How loud is it? Have held off on getting one of bigger ones cause don’t have much physical space and might be to loud for bedroom.
About the same as an external spinning drive.
Would this be practical for movie and TV shows and plex?
I have same question. I expect there would be no problem.
Can you backup a bee-drive with a Synology NAS? Let's say I put a beestation no my mothers iMac and remotely sync to my NAS here at my home over the Internet.
You’d have to set up a vpn and use the smb feature
Would SMB work if there is more than 1 beestation on the same network
yes but you should probably give them different names
I wonder how they the business manages the NAT transfer fees
It uses Synology's QuickConnect so it must do some kind of NAT traversal with a relay server to establish the connection.
i'm sure you're right. eventually they will have to start charging. transfer fees are pricey. @@LonSeidman
Synology is constantly releasing new products, but rarely updating and maintaining its own products, which is unsettling. Its app is rarely updated and new features are rarely added. They just want to make money, but they don't care much about how users feel.
Products made money.. Software update won't.
The price at your link is $220
Will it work as a NAS for HD Homerun DVR?
Negative
@@LonSeidman Bummer
Sync only? I hate sync. It fills up everyone's hard drive. I want a cloud or web access to a drive. To share files between remote users. Not by sync. Dropbox etc...hate them.
It will dynamically adjust how much is actually downloaded similar to OneDrive.
At the point you said 'single hard drive' it became a useless device IMHO. Especially for beginners, it should come with two drives setup to mirror each other. People will archive stuff onto this device and when the hard drive dies, which will happen, they will have lost all thier data.
Is the ethernet 1gbps? Synology has been really against adding 2.5gbps to their other Nas units.
Yes 1 gigabit only on this one forgot to mentioned that
Too expensive for this convenience in terms of per TB.
OK but no redundancy.
This device will cause a lot of sad faces in the future. There should be backup by default.
I'm following Beefiles, which looks a bit like Filerun. But Beefiles is nowhere near as powerful as Filerun. Beefiles doesn't even support file thumbnails. Such an expensive price does not match the product, I will not buy it.
Lon, your hands are dry as a desert, get some lotion my dude!
Only 4TB? Too little for too much $$$.
The cheapest NAS that I can get is 112 bucks, and the cheapest 4TB hard drive rated for NAS that I can get is 120 bucks, so I think this is not a bad value for what it is.
Aparently they are all sold out. Thanks Lon, its alllllll your fault. 🤣
Guilty ! :) It was supposed to land yesterday but I have a feeling there will be stock by the end of this week/early next.