Vantec Thermal Technologies is a privately-held multinational corporation with headquarters and an R&D team in the US, sales/purchasing office in Taiwan and factories in Taiwan, Korea and China. Vantec designs and manufactures thermal products and computer peripherals. Consumers can buy Vantec products from brick-and-mortar electronics stores or online retailers. The company does not sell to end-users directly.
Last week, I picked up the new NexStarLX (NST-375LX) from Vantec USA. Vantec is known for producing high quality USB hard drive enclosures. The NexStarLX adds an ethernet port in addition to the USB 2.0 port, providing a cheap NAS solution for home users.
I combined the NexStarLX ($70 from NewEgg) with a 400GB Seagate Barracuda ATA100 7200RPM on special for $99 from Outpost.com. $169 for 400GB of NAS looked like a great deal. But looks can be deceiving.
As a NAS device, the NexStarLX sucks. It comes with essentially no security. During the setup, you can assign user names/passwords to directories, but the device never authenticates you when you access it. For a home user, this might not be a big deal, unless you want to prevent your kid from accidentally deleting your critical backups! Second, the device comes hard coded with the IP address 169.254.0.1. The only way to change this is to connect to it over your network. A cross-over cable comes in handy. When you login, the device will say it has DHCP client enabled, but the IP won’t change. If you want the NAS to use DHCP, you need to assign it a static IP on your network, reconnect to it, and then re-enable DHCP. Not a big deal, but definitely an annoyance.
Where the NexStarLX really falls down is its NAS abilities. I decided to use Microsoft’s incredibly handy SyncToy to back up about 200GB worth of photos, MP3s, and office documents from my main PC to the NexStarLX. SyncToy performs a bi-directional synchronization and is useful if you have multiple computers and want to make sure you are working on the latest version of your docs. The NexStarLX locked up repeatedly during my syncs, and I had to power cycle the device before I could reconnect.
To make sure it wasn’t SyncToy, I tried some normal file copies from Explorer. The NexStarLX just can’t handle large volumes of file transfers over the network. To make matters worse, I also locked up the device when copying from 2 different PCs at the same time, even though I was copying to different directories. Not good for a NAS device. I hooked the NexStarLX up to my USB 2.0 port and everything went fine. It is just the NAS buffer that seems to have a problem. Vantec may fix this with a firmware update in the future, but until they do, I cannot recommend this product.
I also have an old Buffalo Linkstation HD-120 which works flawlessly. NewEgg has the new 500GB version on sale for $345, which is twice what I spent on the NexStarLX, but is a much better solution. Vantec should stick to USB enclosures for now.
VentureSpark Clients
Idea Phase
VentureSpark is a 4-month program to support students in developing their ideas or concepts, with a set list of milestones to accomplish over the program period. Students may go on to become VentureLab clients after the 4-month period.
• Idea definition
• Team Formation
• IP Ownership Issues
• Initial Market Assessment
• Plan of Short Term Activities
• Business Concept Documented
Venture Lab Clients
Concept Phase
Assistance is provided to move entrepreneurs from business concept to business plan and launch. Concept Phase clients can receive Virtual or Resident (part-time) support.
• Further Market Assessment
• Early Technical Development to get "Beta" or Prototype
• Discuss with Sample Customers
• Sales and Sales Channel Strategy
• Business Plan documented
• Incorporation
Business Phase
Assistance is provided to move entrepreneurs from business plan and launch to the point where they can raise money, enter a supportive incubator/accelerator or become self sustainable. Business Phase Clients can receive Virtual or Resident (Full-time) support.
• Business Operations
• Financial Operations
• Sales Channel Development
• Refining Marketing Plan
• Investor or Incubator/Accelerator Pitch
• Revised Business Plan
• Connecting to Sources of Finance or Incubator/Accelerators
• Awareness of Available and Suitable Government Assistance Programmes.
CLIENT SUPPORT
Virtual Clients
Participant does not require scheduled use of office space, but may use meeting areas on a drop-in basis from time to time.
Resident Clients
Participants are provided office space on a regular monthly basis:
• Part-time participant (Concept): shared work area in an office space for less than 20 hours per week.
• Full-time participant (Business): dedicated work area in an office space for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Office space for Resident Clients is currently available at SFU-Surrey, SFU-BBY Multi-Tenant Facility, and the Business Centre Solutions at Lake City through the BCS award.
Venture Connection's Mentors-In-Residence (MIR) regularly review progress with all participant ventures to help them achieve the milestones set for the business during the program’s duration (normally eight or twelve months). Experienced mentors from the Venture Affiliate Program are assigned to work with the participant as required. All participants are also entitled to scheduled use of other rooms at SFU campuses for meetings.
ADMISSION PREREQUISITES
Teams applying to the Venture Labs program must meet all of the following prerequisites:
• Have a clear business idea.
• Have a services, product or licensing business model which plans to employ multiple people and where business growth is a major objective. It cannot be a structure to achieve a ‘lifestyle’.
• Have at least 50% of its management control held by SFU students or alumni within 1 year of graduation.
Teams applying to Venture Labs as Concept clients must also meet the following prerequisites:
• Have a clear business concept and presentation.
• Have defined management roles and five or fewer members on its management team.
Teams applying to Venture Labs as Business clients must also meet the following prerequisites:
• Have a clear business plan and presentation.
• Have at least one full time member of the management team.
• Have a clear funding and milestone plan covering its participation.
SELECTION PROCESS
Applications are received on a continuous basis.
Individuals or management teams must first speak to one of the Mentors-in-Residence to determine eligibility (see Mentor Meet opportunities in the website calendar).
Applications are by invitation, and the teams must submit a short application form indicating type of participation, basic information about the business, and include at least two references from instructors or professors and where feasible, additional ones from business leaders or entrepreneurs. If approved for further consideration, the applicant will present to a review panel.
Last week, I picked up the new NexStarLX (NST-375LX) from Vantec USA. Vantec is known for producing high quality USB hard drive enclosures. The NexStarLX adds an ethernet port in addition to the USB 2.0 port, providing a cheap NAS solution for home users.
I combined the NexStarLX ($70 from NewEgg) with a 400GB Seagate Barracuda ATA100 7200RPM on special for $99 from Outpost.com. $169 for 400GB of NAS looked like a great deal. But looks can be deceiving.
As a NAS device, the NexStarLX sucks. It comes with essentially no security. During the setup, you can assign user names/passwords to directories, but the device never authenticates you when you access it. For a home user, this might not be a big deal, unless you want to prevent your kid from accidentally deleting your critical backups! Second, the device comes hard coded with the IP address 169.254.0.1. The only way to change this is to connect to it over your network. A cross-over cable comes in handy. When you login, the device will say it has DHCP client enabled, but the IP won’t change. If you want the NAS to use DHCP, you need to assign it a static IP on your network, reconnect to it, and then re-enable DHCP. Not a big deal, but definitely an annoyance.
Where the NexStarLX really falls down is its NAS abilities. I decided to use Microsoft’s incredibly handy SyncToy to back up about 200GB worth of photos, MP3s, and office documents from my main PC to the NexStarLX. SyncToy performs a bi-directional synchronization and is useful if you have multiple computers and want to make sure you are working on the latest version of your docs. The NexStarLX locked up repeatedly during my syncs, and I had to power cycle the device before I could reconnect.
To make sure it wasn’t SyncToy, I tried some normal file copies from Explorer. The NexStarLX just can’t handle large volumes of file transfers over the network. To make matters worse, I also locked up the device when copying from 2 different PCs at the same time, even though I was copying to different directories. Not good for a NAS device. I hooked the NexStarLX up to my USB 2.0 port and everything went fine. It is just the NAS buffer that seems to have a problem. Vantec may fix this with a firmware update in the future, but until they do, I cannot recommend this product.
I also have an old Buffalo Linkstation HD-120 which works flawlessly. NewEgg has the new 500GB version on sale for $345, which is twice what I spent on the NexStarLX, but is a much better solution. Vantec should stick to USB enclosures for now.
VentureSpark Clients
Idea Phase
VentureSpark is a 4-month program to support students in developing their ideas or concepts, with a set list of milestones to accomplish over the program period. Students may go on to become VentureLab clients after the 4-month period.
• Idea definition
• Team Formation
• IP Ownership Issues
• Initial Market Assessment
• Plan of Short Term Activities
• Business Concept Documented
Venture Lab Clients
Concept Phase
Assistance is provided to move entrepreneurs from business concept to business plan and launch. Concept Phase clients can receive Virtual or Resident (part-time) support.
• Further Market Assessment
• Early Technical Development to get "Beta" or Prototype
• Discuss with Sample Customers
• Sales and Sales Channel Strategy
• Business Plan documented
• Incorporation
Business Phase
Assistance is provided to move entrepreneurs from business plan and launch to the point where they can raise money, enter a supportive incubator/accelerator or become self sustainable. Business Phase Clients can receive Virtual or Resident (Full-time) support.
• Business Operations
• Financial Operations
• Sales Channel Development
• Refining Marketing Plan
• Investor or Incubator/Accelerator Pitch
• Revised Business Plan
• Connecting to Sources of Finance or Incubator/Accelerators
• Awareness of Available and Suitable Government Assistance Programmes.
CLIENT SUPPORT
Virtual Clients
Participant does not require scheduled use of office space, but may use meeting areas on a drop-in basis from time to time.
Resident Clients
Participants are provided office space on a regular monthly basis:
• Part-time participant (Concept): shared work area in an office space for less than 20 hours per week.
• Full-time participant (Business): dedicated work area in an office space for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Office space for Resident Clients is currently available at SFU-Surrey, SFU-BBY Multi-Tenant Facility, and the Business Centre Solutions at Lake City through the BCS award.
Venture Connection's Mentors-In-Residence (MIR) regularly review progress with all participant ventures to help them achieve the milestones set for the business during the program’s duration (normally eight or twelve months). Experienced mentors from the Venture Affiliate Program are assigned to work with the participant as required. All participants are also entitled to scheduled use of other rooms at SFU campuses for meetings.
ADMISSION PREREQUISITES
Teams applying to the Venture Labs program must meet all of the following prerequisites:
• Have a clear business idea.
• Have a services, product or licensing business model which plans to employ multiple people and where business growth is a major objective. It cannot be a structure to achieve a ‘lifestyle’.
• Have at least 50% of its management control held by SFU students or alumni within 1 year of graduation.
Teams applying to Venture Labs as Concept clients must also meet the following prerequisites:
• Have a clear business concept and presentation.
• Have defined management roles and five or fewer members on its management team.
Teams applying to Venture Labs as Business clients must also meet the following prerequisites:
• Have a clear business plan and presentation.
• Have at least one full time member of the management team.
• Have a clear funding and milestone plan covering its participation.
SELECTION PROCESS
Applications are received on a continuous basis.
Individuals or management teams must first speak to one of the Mentors-in-Residence to determine eligibility (see Mentor Meet opportunities in the website calendar).
Applications are by invitation, and the teams must submit a short application form indicating type of participation, basic information about the business, and include at least two references from instructors or professors and where feasible, additional ones from business leaders or entrepreneurs. If approved for further consideration, the applicant will present to a review panel.