Conclusion

For what it does, the Post Genie from Armor Link is an attractive, easy to manage and function convergance server. Those who will benefit from this server will be small businesses or entrepreneurs. The ability to have an email system without knowing anything about email routing, configuration, and security is pretty attractive. However, the system does require slightly more than basic knowledge of networking, albeit just more than your average Linksys router.

An additional feature that would enhance the value of the Post Genie would be file-sharing; with capabilities to hold 400GB of RAID striped hard drive space, the Post Genie would also make an excellent MP3 server. Hopefully, Armor Link will add some much needed features and security fixes.

The largest drawback of the Post Genie is the price tag. Although retail prices seem to vary dramatically, the configuration we reviewed today runs about $1000. This may seem a lot for a 300MHz Linux machine, but the addition of preconfigured mail, routing and firewall options make this a fairly unique hardware item. Building a similar machine to the Post Genie may only cost the Do-It-Yourselfer a few hundred dollars, but configuring the plethora of services and optimizing WAN/LAN capabilities are worth the extra cost to an increasingly large niche market.

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  • assemblage - Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - link

    "Cornerstone of the Computer industry" shows that you have fantastical imagination.
  • kmmatney - Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - link

    Very interesting. If the system is reliable, then the $1000 price isn't bad at all.
  • gdetweil - Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - link

    It would be great to have a networking section on the website to easily find networking related articles since you know have a staffer for networking.
  • Saist - Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - link

    As far as I know, Net-Itech http://www.net-itech.com/ did this several years ago and is still doing it.
  • Marlin1975 - Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - link

    "Anand - review the Geode!!! Pleeeease"


    I agree. I thought the 1Ghz versions are SocketA. That and they are supposed to kill the VIA cpus in perormance and offer lower power.

    Also has anybody seen them forsale yet?
  • nserra - Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - link

    Why the 8 LAN ports, isn't this too much for very small offices? Or this is an all in one solution. No switch required?

    The idea is good it only need's redefining.
  • Booty - Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - link

    Good review - well written. I'd been hoping that AT would have more networking-related articles, so it's good to see they brought you on board. Keep up the good work.
  • BrianNg - Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - link

    Thanks for brining that to my attention. I have Kris fix it ASAP.

    Thanks,

    Brian
  • yak8998 - Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - link

    Nice review, are you going to be reviewing more appliances?

    Anand - review the Geode!!! Pleeeease
  • LazyBoyTony - Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - link

    johnsonx

    Give the new guy a break, everyone is allowed to make Typos :P

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