For those interested, below are some of the unique features to Minebox
Key Minebox features:
1. Local storage and remote access
2. Earn money on your free space (unique to Minebox)
3. Get redundant offsite backups with one click (unique to Minebox)
4. Bring your data under your control with a private key known only to you (unique to Minebox)
5. Manage your balance with a built-in wallet (unique to Minebox)
NONE of this is unique to MineBox, though the specific combination might be outside of DIY builds.
2 Seagate Archive 8TB drives are $498 from NewEgg right now (I didn't check shipping but it's not going to be much if any over $10).
The Archive type drives would work better with BURST than SIA though, as they're slow to write to but quite fast to retrieve data from.
The WD Red drives the other person quoted would save even more.
Motherboard definitely under $100, possibly $50ish.
Processor $50 or LESS.
PSU under $100 and more likely $50-$80 - HDs do NOT need a ton of PSU as they typically only soak 10-15 watt ballpark each.
Chassis more like $50.
The point to this device is to make a lot of money for the seller by profiting quite a bit per off folks that don't know any better or how to roll their own better solution.
I was also interested in this device which is a useful machine in compare to an antminer for example That has only a unique use, the mining. Nothing more, a useless, noisy device which consumes electricity.
My thoughts are:
Further of the mining usage,
If I would need a NAS device for backing up my staff, watch movies, it could be a choice.
But Indeed is quite expensive.
With the amount of $1000 (disks included) I can buy one of the best models (4 bay or more) of Synology which is has a very stable, user friendly OS and high quality hardware parts.
To finalize,
If the price was less I would go for it.
I think maybe I missed something here, there are references to DIY builds that can do all of these things but I don't see where to find that information here in this thread.
However, here is what I have been able to determine upon my analysis of the Minebox cost:
2x Drives found in Minebox - $600 on Newegg -
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822179003HP Microserver found in Minebox - $430 on Newegg -
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6ZP3JU1624Additional Memory in 4GB Ram in 16TB Model - $29 on Newegg
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148813Without shipping costs that's already $1060 and the Minebox costs $498 more for the 16TB Model.
So roughly $500 for a custom OS with warranty and continued development to do all the things mentioned above? I'm sorry but if all they are making is $500 a shot on these things, that's not a sustainable business model as they are only making about 33% profit on each device and I'm sure after you factor in their initial R&D and continued development, that profit number dwindles.
Some have indicated here that there is already an OS that does this or can do this? If so, where is the a-la-carte OS download or where is the DIY instructions?
Clearly you can DIY build the hardware cheaper than the above but my question is; if there is some unknown to me way of doing things advertised as unique to Minebox, where is this information on how this is done? I ask this because right now from everything I have found, it looks like these features are first to market.
It's well known that you can backup to the cloud, you can backup to external hard drives, and you can use 3rd party software to encrypt your local backups and backups in the cloud but where is the competing product that does it all in one bundle? Is this a DIY found in a place I haven't found or is this some sort of commercial product that can be purchased?
So far I haven't found this bundle of features available anywhere else in one package. I know of ways I could effectively create a similar solution but that solution would not be decentralized on a blockchain using SIA or a similar architecture. I'm sure given enough time I could figure out how to make that work but candidly, I don't have that kind of time to develop such a product just for myself.
Lastly, if there is a product that can purchased or DIY that I don't know about, does that same product allow you to resell your unused free space and get paid in SIA or another crypto currency the way Minebox does?
Thanks