They wanted to sue me, but I can’t stand for this

Summary

In this video script, the speaker discusses their frustrations with Synology's recent decision to lock their NAS systems to only certified drives, thereby limiting user flexibility. They share their past experience with Windows Home Server and how it allowed more customizability compared to the locked-down NAS solutions. The speaker also reveals their investment in Hexos, a new NAS software that combines ease of use with DIY flexibility. They critique Synology's vendor-locking approach and express optimism about the future of customizable NAS solutions like Hexos, while also reflecting on their previous experiences with tech companies.

Takeaways

• 😀 Synology's new policy restricts the use of non-certified drives in their Plus series NAS, limiting certain features for users who choose non-branded hardware.
• 😀 Certified hard drives from Synology are essentially rebranded regular drives with custom firmware that locks users into purchasing them from the vendor, driving up costs.
• 😀 Users can still use non-certified drives on Synology NAS, but they will lose features such as health reports, firmware updates, and deduplication.
• 😀 A workaround exists for using unsupported drives on older Synology models, proving that the restrictions are based on software rather than hardware limitations.
• 😀 The speaker's frustration with Synology's vendor-locking practices is shared, especially with their intentional limiting of hardware options like M.2 or PCIe slots on certain NAS models.
• 😀 The speaker previously enjoyed the flexibility of Windows Home Server, which allowed users to customize hardware, a feature missing in many modern NAS devices.
• 😀 Synology's ease of use out-of-the-box is appreciated, but it comes at the cost of locking users into their ecosystem, which frustrates those who prefer flexibility.
• 😀 The speaker believes that a DIY NAS solution with the performance of a custom-built system and the ease of a commercial solution would be the perfect solution.
• 😀 Hexos is introduced as a promising solution that offers a user-friendly NAS experience similar to Synology but with more flexibility and fewer vendor restrictions.
• 😀 Hexos has generated significant positive feedback, with a strong developer community rallying behind it, and offers both subscription and one-time payment models for software usage.
• 😀 Despite Synology's actions, the speaker emphasizes that their approach remains independent, and they will continue to review products fairly, separating corporate issues from product evaluations.

Q & A

What is the main issue with Synology's new policy on hard drives?

Synology's new policy restricts users to only using certified drives for their NAS systems. While non-certified drives will still work, users will lose important features such as drive health reports, automatic firmware updates, and volume-wide deduplication.

Why is the speaker frustrated with Synology's new drive certification policy?

The speaker feels that Synology’s policy is unfair and unnecessarily limits user choice, essentially forcing customers to buy overpriced branded drives. The policy is seen as an intentional move to lock users into Synology's ecosystem, even though non-certified drives would function properly without such restrictions.

How does the speaker view vendor-locked hard drives from companies like HP?

The speaker criticizes vendor-locked hard drives, comparing them to HP's approach, where the drives are essentially rebranded generic products with custom firmware that locks users into buying them from the vendor. This practice is viewed negatively because it restricts consumer choice.

What solution does the speaker support for NAS users who want more flexibility?

The speaker supports Hexos, a user-friendly NAS software that allows users to install the software on their own hardware, offering a custom, flexible NAS solution without being locked into proprietary hardware ecosystems.

How does Hexos differ from traditional NAS systems like Synology?

Hexos combines the simplicity and ease of use of traditional NAS systems like Synology with the flexibility of DIY solutions. It allows users to install the software on any hardware they choose, unlike Synology, which locks users into using only certified drives.

What is the subscription model for Hexos, and how does it work?

Hexos offers a subscription model for the software, but also provides a more expensive one-time purchase option, where users own the software forever. The speaker notes that while the base software is a one-time purchase, Hexos may introduce subscription-based features like cloud services in the future.

What was the speaker’s past experience with Windows Home Server?

The speaker was a fan of Windows Home Server because it provided a simple and graphical user interface for managing local network backups and allowed users to add any hardware they wanted, providing flexibility. However, Microsoft abandoned it, and it lacked a robust software RAID solution, which ultimately led the speaker to explore other options.

What was the speaker’s reaction to Synology’s attempt to suppress content about non-official NAS software?

The speaker shares an experience where they filmed a video about a non-official Synology NAS solution (Expenology) but ultimately decided not to release it after Synology strongly opposed the idea. The speaker suggests that Synology’s reaction was an attempt to suppress independent solutions, even though such alternatives were popular among users.

How does the speaker feel about working with Synology in the future?

The speaker has decided not to work with Synology due to their restrictive policies, specifically the drive certification issue. They would only reconsider working with Synology if the company issued an apology, though they acknowledge that this stance may change in the future if key individuals at Synology change.

What is the speaker’s broader view on vendor-locking in consumer products?

The speaker is highly critical of vendor-locking in consumer products, especially when it comes to NAS systems and hard drives. They believe that consumer-grade products should offer more flexibility, and that companies should not restrict customers’ choices with proprietary hardware requirements, particularly when those requirements are unnecessary for functionality.