Review: TonidoPlug

Cloud computing, it’s the new generation of storage. But is it really that secure? How green and efficient can we be, without having a huge power-sucking server for our files? Well, TonidoPlug has the answer for you, with its own (green) TonidoPlug.

Tonido is free software that will turn your desktop into a personal server, and allows you to interact with your files, through built-in applications. It doesn’t matter what OS you are on (Mac, Linux, Windows, Chrome OS, etc.), you just install the software, and there you go.

However, there is also a device that Tonido has created, called the TonidoPlug. Same thing as Tonido, but on this small, environmentally friendly plug. It looks like one of those big, speaker AC adapters, when you pull it out of the box, but with a white shiny finish. It of course, comes with its own RAM, CPU, and it’s powered by Ubuntu. Think of it, as a NAS inside a box. Very simple, small, and easy to set up. All you do is plug it in, Power, LAN, and USB. Once that’s done, let it boot for a few seconds (3o seconds or so). Then, go to http://www.tonidoplug.com/ip/. Your TonidoPlug will now be detected.

From there, you then create a new profile, establish passwords, and all of that. It’s very easy. A nice, clean interface is presented. No need to memorize Linux commands to get it all set up. It does all the work for you; just click some buttons (with instructions).

The applications that were inside TonidoPlug made me wow. Jukebox, Photos, Search, Thots, Workspace, Plug Admin, Torrent, Explorer, are some of them.

There, however, are a few peeves that I really didn’t like much with TonidoPlug, it can be easily fixed with a software update, hopefully Tonido listens.

These are:

Sharing files with an external user, where’s the copy to clipboard link, it’s just simple Javascript.

For the Photos application, one thing I would find useful is a simple “upload photos” link, the link is buried inside of “Share my photos” then click Add new share. But even by doing this, there is still no upload applet. Would be neat to have an upload applet, to upload photos. Maybe even to export these photos to Flickr, Facebook, etc. Currently I see no ability to do so.

Also, my biggest peeve:

Will not let you login to TonidoPlug admin if your router is set to an IP range of 5.5.5.1 only acceptable ranges are:

10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255

172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255

192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255

So therefore, I had to change mine to 10.10.10.1, which was kind of annoying.

It also, does not recognize new IP address changes automatically; the device must be rebooted to recognize a new IP.

Overall, I was impressed with the speed, and of course the price of TonidoPlug. I am going to give the TonidoPlug a 4 / 5 rating, as these small things could be thought of, and the IP range bug, could be fixed.

For more information, comment, or visit http://www.tonidoplug.com/