Things are somewhere between "aw come on" and a fully functioning eSATA port. There are many, many drives that work as long as you use the Antec MX-1 enclosure. Even the notorious FAP 750 will work with the HR21 if and only if you pull the drive and use it with the MX-1. There is obviously a compatibility issue between the HR21 series and some interfaces, particularly the FAP series.
Remember all the compatibility issues with HDMI early on? Same process, just a much lower priority given the number of users the feature affects.
So, at this stage of development, for the HR21 series get an MX-1 enclosure for any compatible drive (and there are many), and have fun.
To say there is no support for eSATA on the HR21 is neither fair nor accurate. There is limited support, it does work within those limits, and works very well, and the support is not all that limited in terms of drive type or even size, as long as one uses the Antec MX-1 enclosure.
If the goal is to get eSATA working on an HR21, it is easily obtainable. If the goal is to get true plug and play with any eSATA drive/enclosure, then yes, we are very far from it.
If one wants and needs eSATA for the HR21, it's there and not expensive. Lots of people have done a ton of experimenting (and paid the price) to find the "solution" to eSATA on the HR21 series. We shouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water and not take advantage of all the hard work and money people invested in making eSATA practical for HR21 users.
It's far from perfect, but choosing the right drive and especially the MX-1 enclosure is a one-step, and virtually 100% successful solution to those who need eSATA on the HR21.
Consider priorities. How long have we been fighting (with D*'s active and considerably efforts) to get Media Share to function? It is still limping along. The fact that eSATA is attainable, with stability in the face of it being low priority says a lot about the efforts others have gone through to make it so, and those truly in need have a solution at hand.
Remember all the compatibility issues with HDMI early on? Same process, just a much lower priority given the number of users the feature affects.
So, at this stage of development, for the HR21 series get an MX-1 enclosure for any compatible drive (and there are many), and have fun.
To say there is no support for eSATA on the HR21 is neither fair nor accurate. There is limited support, it does work within those limits, and works very well, and the support is not all that limited in terms of drive type or even size, as long as one uses the Antec MX-1 enclosure.
If the goal is to get eSATA working on an HR21, it is easily obtainable. If the goal is to get true plug and play with any eSATA drive/enclosure, then yes, we are very far from it.
If one wants and needs eSATA for the HR21, it's there and not expensive. Lots of people have done a ton of experimenting (and paid the price) to find the "solution" to eSATA on the HR21 series. We shouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water and not take advantage of all the hard work and money people invested in making eSATA practical for HR21 users.
It's far from perfect, but choosing the right drive and especially the MX-1 enclosure is a one-step, and virtually 100% successful solution to those who need eSATA on the HR21.
Consider priorities. How long have we been fighting (with D*'s active and considerably efforts) to get Media Share to function? It is still limping along. The fact that eSATA is attainable, with stability in the face of it being low priority says a lot about the efforts others have gone through to make it so, and those truly in need have a solution at hand.
